What it's like to live in Auburn
Auburn is a small city in California with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Auburn deals with home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
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
$3,002
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $60,040 a year
- 58% of Auburn renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$134,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $67,250
- Homes cost 8.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,501/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,501 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $672,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $672,500 · 58% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Placer County is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Placer County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 45% below US
182 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 646/100k · Auburn Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 19% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 13% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
10 public schools inside the boundary
There are 10 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (78 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Auburn's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,501/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (19% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Auburn
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