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Living in
Auburn.
About
Life in Auburn
Living in Auburn means settling into a mid-sized city with genuine historical character but also real economic challenges. The cost of living is reasonable—median home values around $152,800 and rent averaging $897 monthly—which attracts people looking to stretch their dollars, though the population has been declining slightly over recent years. Your commute to nearby jobs is typically short at under 20 minutes, and if you need bigger-city amenities, Syracuse is just 26 miles away.
Auburn at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.5%
Foreign-Born
2.6%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.6% foreign-born, most often from Germany
Who lives in Auburn: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Auburn, the largest foreign-born group is from Germany (13.4%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.0%
of residents
65 and Older
21.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
25.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.4%
of households
Married Couples
26.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.04
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 45% below NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Auburn
In Auburn, rent runs 45% below the NY average, and home values are 64% below the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.4%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,998
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
48.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $226,072 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NY
Unemployment in Auburn
Unemployment in Auburn is close to the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Auburn Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.7 min avg
How Auburn residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Auburn, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 76% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR)
Small hub1.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 109 mi
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Medium hub2.5M 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 12% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Auburn runs 12% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
291.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,254.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Auburn Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 21 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
61.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cayuga County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cayuga County, which includes Auburn, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 21 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $131,000 |
| 2024 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $137,500 |
| 2023 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $102,000 |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $172,500 |
| 2021 | 18 | Lake-Effect Snow | $659,250 |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $585,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $865,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $159,000 |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cayuga County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Onondaga County, NY (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 19 miles from Auburn) is typically good — 298 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
298
per year
Moderate Days
56
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Onondaga County, NY (19 mi away)
Climate79°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Auburn has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.3"
Annual Snowfall
109.4"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
143
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
180
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 15°F | 2.93" |
| Feb | 33°F | 16°F | 2.48" |
| Mar | 42°F | 23°F | 3.23" |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 3.68" |
| May | 69°F | 45°F | 3.77" |
| Jun | 77°F | 55°F | 4.10" |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 4.31" |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.26" |
| Sep | 72°F | 52°F | 3.87" |
| Oct | 59°F | 41°F | 4.47" |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 3.59" |
| Dec | 37°F | 23°F | 3.57" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Auburn
Auburn has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Auburn Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education11.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Auburn
Auburn's student/teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Auburn
Cayuga County Community College
Public · 2-year · 1,187 students · in-state tuition $7,224 · 31% graduate · median earnings $45,175 (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: Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, 1 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Auburn
Auburn has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (1 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
1 mi awayWomen's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
13 mi awayFort Stanwix National Monument
National Monument
59 mi awayPublic Libraries in Auburn
Seymour Public Library District
176-178 Genesee Street, 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, New York affordable?⌄
Auburn's median rent is $897/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $51,052/year. Median home value is $152,800.
Is Auburn, New York safe?⌄
Auburn's violent crime rate was 291 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1255 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Auburn, New York?⌄
Auburn has an unemployment rate of 4.2%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Auburn, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Auburn is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $897/month and median household income is $51,052/year. The median home value is $152,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Auburn, New York?⌄
The average commute in Auburn is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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