The Town FilesAuburn, Alabama
City in Lee County · population 76,143 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $364,800
- Household income
- $63,668
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 25.9
Auburn is a city of 76,143 people in Lee County, Alabama. The median home is worth $364,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Alabama towns, more vibrant than 99% of Alabama towns, better transit than 98% of Alabama towns.
How Auburn ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Auburn is worth $364,800, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $63,668, which is more affordable than 1% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $1,098 a month. 53.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Auburn | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $364,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $1,098 | $834 |
| Median household income | $63,668 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.1% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.9% | — |
Who lives in Auburn
| People | Auburn | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 64.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.4% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 3.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.9% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Auburn
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 35.3°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.7 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 49 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Auburn since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 5, 1954 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 214 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 23, 1983.
Severe weather in Lee County since 1996
Lee County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
| March 5, 2019 | Tornado | DR-4419: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Lee County
Lee County had 66,643 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,394 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Auburn itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Auburn
14 public schools with 9,466 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn High School | 10-12 | 2,163 | 17.3 |
| Auburn Junior High School | 8-9 | 1,509 | 18.4 |
| East Samford School | 7-7 | 728 | 17.8 |
| Drake Middle School | 6-6 | 720 | 18.5 |
| Ogletree Elementary School | 3-5 | 522 | 18.0 |
| Auburn Early Education Center | PK-2 | 501 | 17.3 |
| Cary Woods Elementary School | PK-2 | 466 | 15.5 |
| Pick Elementary School | 3-5 | 442 | 18.4 |
| Creekside Elementary School | 3-5 | 427 | 15.3 |
| Richland Elementary School | K-2 | 417 | 17.4 |
| Dean Road Elementary School | PK-2 | 408 | 17.7 |
| Margaret Yarbrough Elementary School | 3-5 | 404 | 16.2 |
Towns near Auburn
- Opelika, AL7.5 mi · 30,995 people · home $241,800
- Tuskegee, AL17.1 mi · 9,395 people · home $104,800
- La Fayette, AL20.9 mi · 2,684 people · home $85,900
- Dadeville, AL22.4 mi · 3,084 people · home $171,600
- Valley, AL22.8 mi · 10,529 people · home $140,800
- Smiths Station, AL23.5 mi · 5,384 people · home $203,300
- Tallassee, AL23.9 mi · 4,763 people · home $144,600
- Lanett, AL23.9 mi · 6,970 people · home $95,600
Auburn questions
Is Auburn, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Auburn scores better for retirees than 29% of Alabama towns and quieter than 2%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.9).
How much does a house cost in Auburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Auburn is valued at $364,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,668, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $1,098 a month.
What is the weather like in Auburn?
July highs average 89.2°F and January lows 35.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Auburn get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Auburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 5, 1954. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)