If you are considering moving to Alabama and looking for a top city, Pick Auburn with your eyes closed.
The largest city of Eastern Alabama, Auburn is not just a historic college town but is the 19th fastest-growing US city in the past two decades.
The loveliest village on the plains of Alabama is ranked among the 10 Best places to live in the USA. It is home to Auburn University, the economic hub of Alabama, the best school systems, the Auburn Tigers football team, several golf courses, and many things to do and enjoy.
Isn’t this enough to become a great place to move to?
Here are the 12 things you need to know before moving to Auburn, Alabama. So, read on!
Population & Diversity of Auburn, AL
With a population of about 65,000 residents, as of 2020, Auburn spans over 155 square miles of land area.
The city resides in Lee County, a part of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan area of Alabama.
The Auburn, AL population demographics comprise of:
- The male-female ratio is 49.31% male and 50.69% female.
- Poverty rate- 5.7%
- Population diversity score- 89 out of 100
- Median age- 25.2 years
- Official language- English
Here is the list of the racial composition of Auburn:
- White (Non-Hispanic)-68.9%
- Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)- 17.5%
- Asian (Non-Hispanic)-8.68%
- White (Hispanic)-2.13%
- Other races-1.4%
Is Auburn, AL, safe?
Auburn is known to be one of the safest places to live with a family and settle down after retirement. Here are some essential crime stats for Auburn, AL.
- Auburn has 50% fewer crime scenes than other US cities. This makes the city 82% safer for residents to reside in here.
- According to the crime records by the Auburn police department, the annual total crime rate in Auburn averages 12 incidents per every 1000 residents.
- The chance of becoming a violent and property crime victim in Auburn averages 1 in 972 and 1 in 79, respectively.
- The most common type of crimes happening in the city are rape, robbery, assault, vehicle theft, and burglary.
The crime rate in Auburn, AL, in comparison with the state and national average are mentioned as follows:
| Crime type | Auburn | Alabama | US |
| Violent crime | 16.7 | 26.8 | 22.7 |
| Property crime | 22 | 43 | 35.4 |
Source: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/112243NCJRS.pdf
Here are some of the safest neighborhoods in Auburn, AL :
- Foster Estates / Auburn University
- Little Texas / Pleasant Hill
- Moores Mill
- Loachapoka
- Cloverleaf / Windsor Forest
- University
Cost of Living in Auburn, AL
Auburn is a reasonable place to live in Alabama despite having a higher cost of living than the state average. Here’s what you need to know about the living expenses in Auburn.
- The cost of living in Auburn, AL, is 8% lower than the national average and 8% higher than the state average. The cost of living in Madison, AL, is 2% higher than Auburn’s average.
- To maintain a comfortable lifestyle and meet the cost of living in Auburn, AL, you must earn $35,426 per year for a single adult.
- The average cost of living in Auburn, AL, is $1438 monthly, making it the 37% costliest city in the USA.
Here is a table summarizing the cost of living in Auburn, AL :
| Expense Category | Cost of Living Index | Difference from the National Average |
| Housing | 73.5 | 26.5% lower |
| Food | 86.8 | 13.2% lower |
| Healthcare | 81.8 | 18.2% lower |
| Transportation | 89.7 | 10.3% lower |
| Overall Cost of Living | 92 | 8% lower |
The table below describes the cost of living in Auburn, AL, in comparison with the state and the national average:
| Category | Auburn | Alabama | US average |
| Overall | 91.9 | 84.1 | 100 |
| Food and groceries | 101.2 | 94.4 | 100 |
| Healthcare | 122 | 118.9 | 100 |
| Housing | 93.9 | 56.6 | 100 |
| Utilities | 101.3 | 101.2 | 100 |
| Transportation | 79.7 | 85.9 | 100 |
| Miscellaneous | 87.7 | 71 | 100 |
Source: https://edpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Alabamas-Quality-of-Life-1.pdf
Job Market in Auburn, AL
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, you will likely get a job in Auburn after moving to the city. This is because of its increasing job market, which has been rising by 1.7% over the past year.
Here is a detailed report of the job market and salary information in Auburn.
- The job market in Auburn is increasing since 2020 by 1.3%.
- The unemployment rate in Auburn is less than 2.4%, making it one of the best destinations in the US for employment.
- Auburn may see a 41% increase in jobs over the next decade, higher than the national average of 34%.
- The city has noted 72,000 job vacancies in 2023.
- The annual average salary in Auburn is around $39,926, or about $19.20 per hour, a slightly lower median household income than the US average.
The top employers in Auburn, AL, are as follows:
- Auburn University.
- East Alabama Medical Center
- Briggs and Stratton
- Auburn City Schools
- Walmart
- Pharmavite LLC
- Jo-Ann Stores LLC
- Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
- Golden State Foods
- Afni Inc.
The most common job titles in Auburn, AL, are:
- Process Engineer
- Assistant Professor
- Mechanical Engineer
- Registered Nurse
- Software Developer.
The highest-paying job profiles in Auburn, AL:
| Occupation | Salary (per year) |
| Postsecondary Computer Science Teacher | $164,150 |
| General Dentist | $160,140 |
| Environmental Engineer | $98,080 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $97,800 |
| Senior Disaster Program Manager | $65,000 – $97,000 |
| Pharmacist | $65,000 – $97,000 |
| Data Scientist | $95,000 – $100,000 |
| Hotshot Driver | $39,714 – $60,416 |
| Electrician | $46,800 – $64,300 |
| Accounting | $37,900 – $49,800 |
Tax rates in Auburn, AL
The government of Auburn imposes mainly three types of taxes that are mentioned below:
- Income Tax- 2%-5%, US average – 7.3%
- Corporate income tax- 6.50%
- Sales Tax- 9% (A combination of 4% Alabama Sales tax rate, 1% County Sales tax rate, and 4% of Auburn sales tax rate), US average – 4.6%
- Property tax- 0.0035% of the asserted value, US average – 1.11%
Housing market in Auburn, AL
There are fewer chances of you ending up renting a home in Auburn is more than buying it. Auburn has a costlier housing market than the US average.
Let’s check out the simplified analysis of Auburn’s real-estate scenes:
- Auburn has a housing market competitiveness score of 62 out of 100.
- As of 2023, the median sale price of the housing market is around $370,000, i.e., $193 per sq. ft.
- Auburn’s median home listing price as of 2023 is $449,000.
- The real estate market in Auburn has increased by 12.1% year-over-year.
- The number of properties sold in Auburn in 2023 is 110.
- The new homes in Auburn are getting sold within 27 days of staying on the market.
- Auburn has about 51% of homeowners and 49% of renters.
- Building a house in Auburn costs $250,000 per 1000 sq. ft, about $135 per square foot.
The table below compares the housing and rental market in Auburn with the U.S. average.
| Housing costs | Auburn AL | US |
| Median home cost | $370,000 | $338,100 |
| Rental cost of a studio | $825 | $1080 |
| Rental price of 1 bedroom | $910 | $1180 |
| Rental price of 2 bedroom | $1150 | $1430 |
| Rental price of 3 bedroom | $1395 | $1860 |
Source: https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Documents/HPI/HPI_AT_Tables.pdf
Top neighborhoods in Auburn, AL
The best places to live in Auburn, AL, are listed below.
- Asheton Lakes
- Lakeview
- Asheton Park
- Barkley Crest
- Camden Ridge
- Pepperell.
Education system in Auburn, AL
The city’s public school district, Auburn City Schools, has one high school, one junior High School, nine elementary schools, and two middle schools.
These schools hold over 10,000 students in total from grades prek-12 with a teacher-student ratio of 1:22. ACS’s six schools are known as the #6 best school districts in Alabama and the US.
The Ace of Auburn, Auburn University, is the largest university, the primary employer, and the best college for teaching degrees in Alabama. It has over 30,000 students and 6,000 employees enrolled in the university. This makes the college a land-grant, sea-and-space-grant university. It offers various degrees in applied science, education, arts, architecture, engineering, veterinary, and business.
Here is a list of top-rated public, private, and elementary schools in AuburnAL.
Public Schools in Auburn, AL
- Wrights Mill Road Elementary School
- Creekside Elementary School
- Ogletree Elementary School
- Auburn High School
- Pick Elementary School
Private schools in AuburnAL
- Lee-Scott Academy
- Holy Trinity Day School
Top University in Auburn, Alabama
- Auburn University
Public Transportation in Auburn, AL
Auburn has limited public transportation services, so owning a car or bike is essential to get around the city.
The city doesn’t own a public bus system. It has many sidewalks, bike routes, and a lot of parking facilities for your vehicles.
It takes 20 minutes to reach the destination, which is lower than the US average of 27 minutes. But budget for vehicle insurance, gas, maintenance, and an Alabama motorcycle license.
The accessible public transportation options present in Auburn, AL, are as follows:
- Metro Transit: A local bus service that connects the regional areas and the city community.
- Groome Transportation: A private transportation company offering shuttle bus services to and from the Atlanta airport.
- Lee Russel public transit (LRPT): A daily-ride, first-come, first-served, demand response public transportation service operated in Lee and Russel counties on a space availability basis.
- Auburn University transit services: Free shuttle transportation services are provided to Auburn University’s staff, faculty, and students.
Weather and climate in Auburn, AL
Auburn, Alabama, features humid subtropical weather with four distinct seasons. Over the entire year, the average temperature in Auburn ranges between 38-91°F, rarely falling below 25°F and rising above 97°F.
According to the National Weather Service, weather conditions in Auburn, AL is characterized by:
- Auburn gets 217 sunny days, 54 inches of rainfall of 108 days, and 1 inch of snowfall, on average, every year.
- July is the hottest month, from May to September, with an average high-low temperature of 91°F-72°F.
- January is the coldest month, from November to February, with high-low temperatures averaging 57°F-37°F.
- March and October are the months getting the most and least rainfall in Auburn, with about 5.0 inches and 2.6 inches, respectively.
- The best time to visit Auburn, AL, is April, May, and October.
The table below summarises the weather in Auburn, AL, for each month:
| Month | Average High Temperature (°F) | Average Low Temperature (°F) | Average Precipitation (inches) | Chance of Rain |
| January | 58 | 39 | 5.2 | 33% |
| February | 63 | 42 | 5.0 | 36% |
| March | 71 | 48 | 5.0 | 38% |
| April | 79 | 54 | 4.3 | 34% |
| May | 83 | 63 | 4.3 | 34% |
| June | 91 | 72 | 4.7 | 30% |
| July | 90 | 72 | 5.3 | 36% |
| August | 91 | 72 | 4.3 | 33% |
| September | 84 | 66 | 3.2 | 28% |
| October | 77 | 53 | 2.6 | 16% |
| November | 67 | 43 | 4.3 | 29% |
| December | 59 | 39 | 4.8 | 33% |
Source: https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/auburn/36830/winter-weather-forecast/326707
Things to Do in Auburn, AL
Dig into the list of top 8 things to do and places to see in Auburn, AL.
- Try some casual or even professional baseball at Plainsman Park.
- Experience about wildlife rescue at Auburn Raptor Center.
- Spend time playing, learning, eating, and gyming in Neville Arena.
- Enjoy Auburn University football games at Jordan Stadium.
- Spend a whole day fishing, boating, swimming, etc, in Chewacla State Park, & Kiesel Park,
- Get the best and all sorts of knowledge about flora in Donald E. Davis Arboretum.
- Check out the mesmerizing live music, food vendors, and arts and crafts at auburn cityfest.
- Enjoy family time with one of the most appealing Rustic-chic bar-The Hound
- Mesmerize yourself in your free time with the city’s historic Bank of Auburn and the city’s first Telegraph establishment: Toomers’ Drugs Pharmacy.
- Enjoy golf challenges at Indian Pines Golf Course.
- Bring yourself into nature’s asylum and enjoy peace, beauty, and love of nature in the Kreher Preserve & Nature Centre.
Pros and Cons of Living in Auburn, AL
Auburn is a great relocation place. If you want to move to Auburn, Alabama, it’s time to prepare yourself for the opposing sides of the city from the list of pros and cons of living in Auburn, Al.
| Pros of Living in Auburn, AL | Cons of Living in Auburn, AL |
|---|---|
| Affordable cost of living | High humidity |
| Great opportunities for education | Low average income |
| Diverse population | High sales tax |
| Low crime | Severe storms |
| Great weather | High poverty rates |
| Thriving nightlife | Dry weather |
| Good safety rankings | Traffic congestion |
Final Verdict
Auburn is a great place to live in if you are looking for a great education system, opt for a degree from a great university like Auburn University, which has lower living costs, fantastic food scenes, breathtaking natural views, football-fanatic scenes, exciting nightlife, lower housing costs, and booming economy. So, if Auburn effortlessly fulfills your demands, lifestyle, and preferences, pack your stuff and have a safe move!
Image Credit: dregsplod from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons