What it's like to live in Auburn
Auburn is a smaller city in Alabama with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Auburn deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Auburn compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Auburn
Based on Auburn's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,196
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,920 a year
- 54% of Auburn renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$72,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,480
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 22% below US
$1,098/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,098 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $364,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $364,800 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 40% below US
2.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.6%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 70% below US
99 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 871/100k · Auburn Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 78% above US
64% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Auburn's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,098/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Auburn
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