What are the schools like in Auburn, MI?

Auburn is served primarily by Bay City School District. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

What is the median household income in Auburn?

The median household income in Auburn, MI is $62,589 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in Auburn, MI?

Auburn has an average high temperature of 29.8°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 32.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 49.0 inches.

Auburn, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Auburn, MI affordable or expensive?

Auburn's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Auburn is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $156,600 and the median rent is $840 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Auburn, MI?

Auburn has a violent crime rate of 235.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 984.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Auburn, MI a Good Place to Live?

Auburn is a small town of 1,921 in Michigan, with a median household income of $62,589 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Auburn stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), 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: 90.6

Auburn's overall cost of living index is 90.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Auburn costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Auburn, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$156,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$840	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,589	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Auburn's violent crime rate is 235.6 per 100,000 residents — 38% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

235.6 /100k

Property Crime

984.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Auburn is served primarily by Bay City School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Auburn, MI	National Avg
School District	Bay City School District	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Auburn sees average highs of 29.8°F in January and 83.1°F in July, with 32.1 inches of annual precipitation and 49.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Auburn, MI
Average High — January	29.8°F
Average High — July	83.1°F
Annual Precipitation	32.1"
Annual Snowfall	49.0"

Demographics

Metric	Auburn, MI	National Avg
Population	1,921	—
Median Age	46.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	14.8%	22.2%
65 and over	26.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Freeland, MI 6 mi Midland, MI 8 mi Bay City, MI 9 mi Zilwaukee, MI 11 mi Essexville, MI 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Auburn

Auburn, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48611

Auburn vs Other Cities

Auburn, MI vs Freeland, MI Auburn, MI vs Midland, MI Auburn, MI vs Bay City, MI Auburn, MI vs Zilwaukee, MI Auburn, MI vs Essexville, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Auburn, MI affordable or expensive?

Auburn's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Auburn roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $156,600 and median rent is $840/month.

What is the crime rate in Auburn, MI?

Auburn's violent crime rate is 235.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 984.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Auburn?

Public schools in Auburn are operated by Bay City School District. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.1:1. 37.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Auburn, MI a good place to live?

Auburn, MI has a population of 1,921, a median household income of $62,589, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Auburn?

Auburn averages 29.8°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.1 inches with about 49.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Auburn?

Auburn, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48611.

What is the population of Auburn?

The population of Auburn, Michigan is 1,921 with a median age of 46.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Auburn?

Key numbers for living in Auburn: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $156,600, median household income $62,589, crime index 56 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.