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Living in
Auburn.
About
Life in Auburn
If you're seriously considering Auburn, understand that you're choosing a working suburb rather than a destination. The Boeing plant and GSA headquarters mean steady employment, but you'll also see industrial zones mixed with residential areas—this isn't a picturesque small town. Your 30-minute commute to Seattle is manageable but consistent; many residents drive daily to the city for work.
Auburn at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.9%
Foreign-Born
25.1%
Broadband Internet
94.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.1% 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 (24.7%), and 14.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.9%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
24.1%
of households
Married Couples
48.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.79
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 about average for WA
Rent, home values, and income in Auburn
Rent and home values here are close to the WA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,484
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
60.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $593,931 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for WA
Unemployment in Auburn and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Auburn is close to the WA 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
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area
Commute30.5 min avg
How Auburn residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Auburn, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 53% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Major hub25.4M 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 9% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Auburn runs 9% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
299.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,498.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Auburn Police Department
Natural DisastersHeavy Rain most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
King County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In King County, which includes Auburn, the most common type is heavy rain, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | Heavy Rain | None reported |
| 2022 | 1 | Heavy Rain | $1.5M |
| 2021 | 1 | Flood | $474,000 |
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.
30 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
King County, county-wide
Auburn is about 4% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in King County, which includes Auburn, is typically good — 245 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
43
Good Days
245
per year
Moderate Days
120
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
King County, county-wide
Auburn is about 4% of King County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate76°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Auburn has mild summers (avg high 76°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/44°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
76°/56°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
54.9"
Annual Snowfall
6.3"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
39
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
153
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 36°F | 5.77" |
| Feb | 51°F | 36°F | 3.99" |
| Mar | 56°F | 39°F | 4.36" |
| Apr | 61°F | 43°F | 3.06" |
| May | 68°F | 49°F | 2.10" |
| Jun | 72°F | 53°F | 1.68" |
| Jul | 78°F | 57°F | 0.67" |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 0.92" |
| Sep | 73°F | 52°F | 1.49" |
| Oct | 61°F | 46°F | 4.07" |
| Nov | 53°F | 39°F | 6.23" |
| Dec | 47°F | 35°F | 5.75" |
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
8.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Multicare Auburn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
St Francis Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.3 mi away · Federal Way
Multicare Covington Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.2 mi away · Covington
Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.5 mi away · Renton
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.
Education17.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Auburn
Auburn's student/teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
25
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Auburn
Public · 2-year · 4,965 students · in-state tuition $5,172 · 47% graduate · median earnings $54,621 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
11.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,185 students · in-state tuition $13,577 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,105 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,838 students · in-state tuition $4,935 · 41% graduate · median earnings $54,850 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,594 students · in-state tuition $65,886 · 73% graduate · median earnings $71,918 (10 yrs after entry)
Faith International University
14.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 276 students · in-state tuition $8,850 · 43% graduate · median earnings $57,111 (10 yrs after entry)
Northwest College of Art & Design
11.3 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 139 students · in-state tuition $18,100 · 50% graduate · median earnings $39,289 (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: Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park, 21 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Auburn
Auburn has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (21 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
National Historical Park
21 mi awayWing Luke Museum Affiliated Area
Affiliated Area
21 mi awayMount Rainier National Park
National Park
39 mi awayEbey's Landing National Historical Reserve
National Historical Reserve
67 mi awayOlympic National Park
National Park
76 mi awaySan Juan Island National Historical Park
National Historical Park
92 mi awayPublic Libraries in Auburn
Auburn Library
1102 Auburn Way South, 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, Washington affordable?⌄
Auburn's median rent is $1,786/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $97,884/year. Median home value is $547,900.
Is Auburn, Washington safe?⌄
Auburn's violent crime rate was 300 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2498 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Auburn, Washington?⌄
Auburn has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Auburn, Washington?⌄
The cost of living in Auburn is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,786/month and median household income is $97,884/year. The median home value is $547,900. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Auburn, Washington?⌄
The average commute in Auburn is 31 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