Auburn is a mid-sized city of 76,660 in Alabama, with a median household income of $55,509
and a 3.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Auburn stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Auburn is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Auburn city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.9
Auburn's overall cost of living index is 88.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Auburn costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Auburn, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$327,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$995
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
51.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,509
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Auburn's violent crime rate is 107.5 per 100,000 residents
— 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
107.5 /100k
Property Crime
979.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Auburn is served primarily by Auburn City.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Auburn, AL
National Avg
School District
Auburn City
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
61.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Auburn sees average highs of 56.1°F in January
and 89.2°F in July,
with 54.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Auburn's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Auburn roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $327,000 and median rent is $995/month.
Auburn's violent crime rate is 107.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 979.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Auburn are operated by Auburn City.
The district has 10 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 61.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Auburn, AL has a population of 76,660, a median household income of $55,509, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Auburn averages 56.1°F in January and 89.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.4 inches
with about 0.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Auburn, AL is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 36830, 36832, 36879, 36849.
The population of Auburn, Alabama is 76,660 with a median age of 25.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Auburn: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $327,000, median household income $55,509, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Auburn side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
