Auburn

According to Joanne “Jo” Barragan, Real Estate Broker Associate at eXp Realty of California and 20-year local, Northeast Auburn is the type of neighborhood where San Franciscan travelers “passing through to get to Tahoe” pull off Interstate 80 to grab a quick bite at the country store and end up wanting to stay. Barragan, a native San Franciscan, shares this story since she used to “come and visit Auburn every summer and just fell in love with the charm.” Like many locals, she appreciates how Northeast Auburn offers diverse dining and retail options alongside tranquil residential and natural areas, all while being less than 10 minutes away from downtown and Old Town Auburn. Contemporary and ranch-style homes with brick and wood siding are standard in the Northeast Auburn neighborhood. Most homes are one to two stories with three to five bedrooms, wide driveways and two-car garages. These typically list between $400,000 and $685,000, while new construction in the area starts at $1 million. Recently built and upcoming properties either look entirely custom or mimic Modern style with flat slab roofing, clean lines and deep earthy hues. Spacious cul-de-sacs are lined with neatly maintained grassy lawns and lush clusters of trees that hug the sides and backs of homes. Students can begin their education at Auburn Elementary School, which has a C rating on Niche. The school has many annual traditions that students can participate in, such as their Fall Festival, Panther Dash and year-end staff versus fifth-grade kickball game. Bowman Charter School, serving kindergarten through eighth-grade students, is the closest tuition-free school for middle schoolers. It has an A-minus rating from Niche. High schoolers can attend Placer High School in the nearby Auburn neighborhood. It earns an A-minus rating on Niche for its AP and gifted program. The school also offers special extracurriculars that help connect students with their community, like the Leos Club, a youth branch of the Auburn Lions Club nonprofit that has served the Auburn area for over 50 years. Northeast Auburn sits parallel to Auburn State Recreation Area, a sprawling nature park on the American River with extensive hiking trails, campgrounds and whitewater boating. Both the entrance to the park’s campgrounds and its trail parking area are about 4 miles away from the neighborhood. Barragan says it’s also “a popular spot for community events like the free-to-attend annual Harvest Festival” that features live music, themed contests, and artisan vendor booths hosted by local nonprofits. Ashford Park is a more casual spot where locals can explore the outdoors. Families enjoy the ample green space by making use of its off-leash dog park, duck and fishing pond, year-round creek, picnic shelter with barbecue pits, playground and restrooms. Ikeda’s is Northeast Auburn’s most well-known market; it’s where travelers pull off I-80 to stretch their legs and grab some snacks, and locals like to buy groceries. The market sells fresh produce, meats and healthy whole foods and has a deli and bakery. They are most known for their handmade fruit pies. Items are priced slightly higher than in other markets, but locals appreciate their products being locally sourced. For a sit-down meal, Awful Annie’s is a popular pick. The restaurant serves traditional American fare for breakfast and lunch, and local TV station KCRA has awarded the spot the title of “Best Breakfast in Sacramento” six years in a row. The Auburn Ravine Shopping Center is a local go-to for retail shopping. There are a variety of clothing and personal care stores in the shopping center, as well as the Humane Society of the Sierra Foothills Used Book Store. I-80 runs north to south through the center of the neighborhood, so commuting locals use the freeway frequently. However, residents also have access to Auburn Transit, the primary public transportation service for all neighborhoods in the city of Auburn. It offers numerous services, from public bus routes to a ride-share service specific to Auburn city limits called Auburn OnDemand. Auburn Municipal Airport is 3 1/2 miles from the neighborhood and offers locals access to air ambulances, flight instruction, private charters and scenic tours. The airport’s location is above the fog line, making it consistently clear for flights year-round.

Northwest Auburn may stretch along the Sierra Nevada Foothills from north to south, but its commercial and residential features go from east to west. Its eastern border is densely lined with restaurants, shopping centers, businesses and government offices. However, moving west, the area becomes increasingly residential, with planned cul-de-sac streets and spacious rural properties. Housing in Northwest Auburn comes in various styles, including New Traditional, Contemporary, ranch, and California craftsman. Homes typically cost between $520,000 and $850,000 for three to four bedrooms and come with wide paved driveways that lead to multi-car garages. Greenery is diverse, with some residences hidden behind heavily forested lawns and others on full display with minimalist manicured grass plots. Family farms, personal vineyards and desert landscaping are common sights on the neighborhood’s outskirts. There are also 55 and up mobile home communities throughout Northwest Auburn. Golden Chain, Edgewood and Rock Creek Mobile Home Parks list two-bed, two-bath homes for anywhere between $30,000 and $165,000. Students can begin their education at Auburn Elementary School, which has a C rating on Niche. The school has many annual traditions that students can participate in, such as their Fall Festival, Panther Dash and year-end staff versus fifth-grade kickball game. Older students generally move on to EV Cain Middle School, which has a C-plus Niche rating, followed by Placer High School, which earns an A-minus from Niche for its AP and gifted program. Regional Park is the neighborhood’s primary green space. It features a large duck pond, two playgrounds, picnic tables, four tennis courts and a free disc golf course. Joanne “Jo” Barragan, Real Estate Broker Associate at eXp Realty of California and 20-year local, says the park is also popular for community activities and events. “Kids will play soccer there on Saturdays. It’s where I used to play softball, too. They even hold concerts there sometimes by the big lake, and they just held the All American Rib Cookoff there this past spring.” Atwood Park is a smaller but locally loved residential park. A children’s playground with benches and a small bridge leads toward a duck pond hidden by lush trees and full shrubs. Northwest Auburn brings a lot to the table when it comes to dining. Stop by Mission Coffee, the self-proclaimed heart of North Auburn, for a warm cup of joe or dig into hearty Southern-style barbeque at Sierra Grill Smokehouse. When happy hour hits, Rebellion Brewing Company has a variety of craft beer on tap and canned in-house. Right outside the neighborhood, Mt. Vernon Winery is a favorite of local wine enthusiasts. This family-run business offers a wide selection of wines and a patio for tastings with a sprawling view of the vineyards. There are plenty of retail options, too. Barragan says, “Northwest Auburn is where you’re going to find all your big box stores and chains. All your shopping is up there.” National brands like Target, Ulta Beauty and Ross can be found in the Crossroads and Rock Creek Plaza shopping centers, while local brands like Bel Air grocery are in the Auburn Village strip mall. Residents can also explore 49er Flea Market and its rotating list of local vendors on the first Saturday of every month. State Route 49 is the main thoroughfare of Northwest Auburn. Commuting locals can take Route 49 onto Interstate 80 and be downtown within 30 minutes. Residents can access public transportation through Placer County Transit, a fixed bus route, or Dial-A-Ride, a curb-to-curb driving service. The Placer Commuter Express is also an option for those who work downtown; Monday through Friday, this commuter bus service takes locals from all over Western Placer County to downtown Sacramento and back. Auburn Municipal Airport is 3 1/2 miles from the neighborhood and offers locals access to air ambulances, flight instruction, private charters and scenic tours. Many government and county service offices are clustered in the center of the neighborhood. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is based in Northwest Auburn, as well as the Auburn Jail and Placer County Probation Juvenile Detention Facility. Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital is also located within the neighborhood and provides residents with same-day walk-ins, urgent and emergency care, virtual consultations and lab work.