What it's like to live in Auburn
Auburn is a small city in Maine with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment 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 rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, and heavy snowfall.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 65" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- 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
$2,082
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $41,640 a year
- 52% of Auburn renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$56,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $28,200
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 26% below US
$1,041/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,041 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $282,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $282,000 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 21% below US
3.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 30% below US
232 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 2291/100k · Auburn Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 17% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.7 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 15°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
8 public schools inside the boundary
There are 8 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Frances Perkins National Monument (35 miles away).
Bottom line
Auburn's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,041/mo) equals 19% 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 and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Auburn
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