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Living in
Auburn.
About
Life in Auburn
Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills between Sacramento and Reno, Auburn offers small-town charm with surprising accessibility—most commutes hover around 19 minutes, and you're positioned halfway between two major metros if you need bigger-city amenities. The county seat of Placer County sits at about 800 feet elevation, which means you get genuine seasons (cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers) without the extremes; July averages in the low 90s, December in the mid-50s, and snow is rare enough that you won't be dealing with regular winter road headaches. Housing costs reflect the Northern California foothill premium—median homes run around $672,500 and median rent about $1,501 monthly—but that median household income of $82,674 and the 4.3% unemployment rate suggest the job market here is steady, especially if you're flexible about Sacramento commuting or work tied to local government and county services.
Auburn at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.0%
Foreign-Born
7.4%
Broadband Internet
89.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Auburn: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Auburn, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (32.6%), and 6.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.0%
of residents
65 and Older
27.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.2%
of households
Married Couples
43.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Auburn
In Auburn, rent runs 26% below the CA average, and home values are 8% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,633
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $626,630 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Auburn and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Placer County, which includes Auburn, is 1.2 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Auburn: Placer County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Placer County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Auburn is about 3% of Placer County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Auburn Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA metro area
Commute21.2 min avg
How Auburn residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Auburn, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Medium hub6.8M passengers boarded in 2025
- 112 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Auburn runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
181.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
646
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Auburn Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Snow most common — 68 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Placer County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Placer County, which includes Auburn, the most common type is heavy snow, with 68 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 68 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
| 2024 | 109 | Heavy Snow | $90,000 |
| 2023 | 87 | Heavy Snow | $20,000 |
| 2022 | 82 | High Wind | $25,000 |
| 2021 | 78 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2020 | 66 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2019 | 62 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2018 | 56 | Heavy Snow | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
206 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Placer County, county-wide
Auburn is about 3% of Placer County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Placer County, which includes Auburn, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
167
per year
Moderate Days
196
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Placer County, county-wide
Auburn is about 3% of Placer County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate90°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Auburn has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
57°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
36.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
63
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
20
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
67
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 38°F | 7.01" |
| Feb | 59°F | 40°F | 6.50" |
| Mar | 63°F | 42°F | 6.12" |
| Apr | 68°F | 45°F | 2.84" |
| May | 77°F | 52°F | 1.65" |
| Jun | 86°F | 58°F | 0.41" |
| Jul | 93°F | 63°F | 0.01" |
| Aug | 92°F | 63°F | 0.07" |
| Sep | 87°F | 60°F | 0.24" |
| Oct | 77°F | 52°F | 1.42" |
| Nov | 64°F | 43°F | 3.05" |
| Dec | 56°F | 37°F | 6.80" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Auburn
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Auburn's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Auburn
Sutter Roseville Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13 mi away · Roseville
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Roseville
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.7 mi away · Roseville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education18.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Auburn
Auburn's student/teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 40.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
18.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Auburn (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 14,122 students · in-state tuition $1,448 · 32% graduate · median earnings $48,499 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,294 students · in-state tuition $37,150 · 60% graduate · median earnings $60,855 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, 78 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Auburn
Auburn has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (78 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
78 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
85 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
90 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
97 mi awayPublic Libraries in Auburn
Auburn Library
350 Nevada St., Auburn
Sparks Law Library Of Placer County
1523 Lincoln Way, Auburn
Cities Near Auburn
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Auburn?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Auburn FAQ
Is Auburn, California affordable?⌄
Auburn's median rent is $1,501/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $82,674/year. Median home value is $672,500.
Is Auburn, California safe?⌄
Auburn's violent crime rate was 182 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 646 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Auburn, California?⌄
Placer County, which includes Auburn, has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Auburn, California?⌄
The cost of living in Auburn is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,501/month and median household income is $82,674/year. The median home value is $672,500. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Auburn, California?⌄
The average commute in Auburn is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from