The city of Auburn is known far and wide as the home of Auburn University, the second-largest university in Alabama. Thanks to a legendary athletics program, the Auburn Tigers have more than earned their fearsome reputation. But the university is more than its national championships. The steady supply of students is a major force in the local economy, and the university serves as the city’s largest employer. Meanwhile, city parks and a historic downtown are popular among residents of all ages, and highly rated public schools attract families with kids. Considerable population growth — from just over 50,000 in 2010 to north of 80,000 today — also means new home construction continues apace. “I believe Auburn has to be on anybody’s shortlist for where to raise a family or where to retire after they’re done working,” says Mayor Ron Anders Jr., a lifelong resident.
Downtown Auburn offers residents a variety of entertainment, restaurants, and shops.
Come watch the Tigers mascot shoot some hoops at Tipoff at Toomers.
Downtown Auburn is home to many Auburn University students and faculty.
Downtown Auburn is a lively college neighborhood filled with students.
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An academically focused city
With over 33,000 students, Auburn University is one of the largest research universities in the South, offering over 150 undergraduate degree programs across 12 colleges and a large number of graduate degree programs. Plus, more than 13,000 people work as faculty or staff at the university. “We’re connected at the hip figuratively, and we’re connected by the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and College Street physically,” Mayor Anders says. “But, more importantly, we’re connected spiritually and productively. I believe we have the best town-and-gown relationship of any university in the United States.” For grade school, Auburn City Schools serve the area, receiving a Niche grade of A-plus while being ranked the third-best school district in the state. To accommodate Auburn’s growing population, the city has plans to build a second high school. The $139 million, 348,000-square-foot facility will feature three stories of classrooms, and the 81-acre campus will also include a two-story athletic building and a performing arts center.
Downtown Auburn is located a few miles south of Asheton Lakes.
Asheton Lakes is a few miles away from Jordan-Hare stadium, great to access game days.
Auburn Junior High School teaches kids to do their best.
Auburn High School encourages a positive classroom environment near Woodland Park.
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Rolling Toomer’s Corner after a Tigers win
Every fall, college football takes over. On campus, nearly 90,000 fans pack into Jordan-Hare Stadium, with countless more tailgating and watching from nearby bars. After a Tigers win, the community congregates at Toomer’s Corner to celebrate and toss toilet paper on the oak trees, stoplights and light poles — anything within throwing distance. Rolling Toomer’s isn’t reserved for football, though. “The men’s golf team won the national championship this past spring, and a couple thousand people were out there celebrating,” says Kirk Sampson, senior associate athletic director for strategic communications at Auburn University and an Auburn resident of 26 years. “It’s a magical experience.” Beyond athletics, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art showcases American and European works from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the Telfair Peet Theatre stages productions from university students. Every April in Kiesel Park, the city's largest annual event, Auburn City Fest, features crafts, fine arts and food vendors as well as live entertainment and activities for kids. Also in Kiesel Park, the Sundown Concert Series hosts free Thursday concerts throughout the spring and fall. In June, College Street transforms into an arts district during the SummerNight Downtown Art Walk. Locals can stroll the booths showcasing work from local artists, enjoy street performers, and visit restaurants and shops keeping their doors open late.
The Telfair Peet Theatre in Auburn features student made productions.
Auburn University's Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art features 19th and 20th century art.
Auburn University football game days at Jordan-Hare Stadium often highlight Downtown Auburn.
Residents and tourists are often out late on Toomer's Corner in Downtown Auburn.
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Ranch and farmhouses inside the loop, and new construction outside
Several historic districts date back to the mid-1800s, including downtown’s North College Historic District and the Auburn University Historic District. The median single-family home currently sells for $435,000, up 6% year over year; the median townhouse sale price is $315,267. While there are many new builds in developing subdivisions on the city’s outskirts, homes in Auburn date as far back as the late 19th century; most of the city’s oldest houses are concentrated near downtown in the historic districts. The Historic Preservation Committee must approve any changes to homes in historical districts to preserve the integrity of historic homes and prevent them from being leased out to students. While apartments and student rental housing dominate around campus, buyers can also find townhouses and apartment-style condominiums for sale, often used as gameday homes for out-of-towners. Ranch and farmhouse-style homes populate most of the neighborhoods inside what locals call “the loop” or “the circle,” a nearly 13-mile beltway around downtown Auburn. Just outside the loop to the southeast, Auburn’s most expensive homes sit on the Moore’s Mill Club golf course, selling as high as $2.5 million.
You'll find mid-rise apartment buildings with ground level restaurants in Downtown Auburn.
Homes in Downtown Auburn typically consist of condos, apartments, and townhouses.
Farmhouse style homes are in abundance in Lundy Chase.
Houses with simply manicured lawns line the streets of Harmon Estates.
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Auburn’s walkable downtown near the university
Auburn’s walkable downtown anchors the university and the city as a whole, bringing together students and locals of all ages. Residents can find locally owned boutiques, eateries and coffee shops, as well as bars and breweries that contribute to a lively nightlife scene. Toomer’s Drugs is the most iconic of these businesses downtown, operating since 1895 and still offering their famous freshly squeezed lemonade. Additional restaurants and chain grocery and retail shopping options are concentrated along Interstate 85 and State Route 14, including the Auburn Mall.
Residents, students, and tourists head to Toomer's Drugs in Auburn for their famous lemonade.
Retail stores like Target line the streets of Downtown Auburn.
After closing in 2015, the local favorite War Eagle Supper Club has reopened in Downtown Auburn.
Residents in Auburn can find a variety of small and big box retailers at the Auburn Mall
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Outdoor recreation and future park plans
On the university’s campus, Donald E. Davis Arboretum features 13.5 acres of native trees and other plants found throughout various Alabama ecosystems, many of which are rare or endangered. On the city’s southern end, Chewcala State Park spans nearly 700 acres and features a 26-acre lake popular for swimming and fishing for crappie, bass and catfish. The park also has an expansive network of hiking and mountain biking trails. West of town, Kiesel Park is the largest city park in Auburn at 124 acres. It features an off-leash dog park and over 2 miles of walking trails, as well as the historic 1850s Nunn-Winston House with antebellum Greek Revival architecture. Adopted in 2018, Auburn's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Master Plan details the city’s plans over 20 years to increase recreation opportunities through improvements to the parks and trails, as well as arts and cultural programs. Part of the plan includes the construction of the $22 million Lake Wilmore Community Center north of Ogletree Road, which will feature a large indoor gym, four new athletic fields with turf and two swimming pools; completion is expected by the end of 2024. Auburn also features a thriving golf scene, with eight courses within a 15-mile radius. This includes the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National, the top public golf facility in the country as voted on by Golf World magazine. While the club has three separate courses, the Lake Course has hosted PGA Tour events in the past.
The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Auburn has hosted many PGA Tour events.
You can visit the majestic falls at Chewacla State Park in Auburn.
Many residents come to Kiesel Park in Auburn to walk their pets.
Residents in Auburn can often walk through the 13.5 acres of Donald E. Davis Arboretum.
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Driving distance to Montgomery and Atlanta
Interstate 85 is the main route through East Alabama, passing through Auburn to downtown’s southeast. Montgomery is about 60 miles to the west, and Atlanta is roughly 100 miles northeast. While Auburn is relatively compact, its population growth has increased commute times for those driving to work. Football gamedays often bring heavy traffic to the area, as the city often sees over 100,000 daily visitors. Auburn University provides public transportation via the Tiger Transit bus system, serving campus and nearby areas. The Auburn University Regional Airport is a public use, general aviation airport on the city’s eastern outskirts, and serves as the training facility for the university’s school of aviation. While not an extremely busy airport, homeowners in these locations may still hear aircraft noise. While the closest commercial airports are in Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia, most air travelers head to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport roughly 100 miles northeast as it offers flights to over 200 destinations around the world. For emergency and specialized medical attention, the East Alabama Medical Center is just across the city border in neighboring Opelika, Alabama.
Important to know
Auburn is generally regarded as a safe place to live. The city’s annual violent crime rate of 1.39 incidents per 1,000 residents, lower than the state rate of 4.09 and the national rate of 3.9. The city’s annual property crime rate of 12.22 incidents per 1,000 residents, also lower than the state rate of 17.39 and the national rate of 19.55. According to the FBI, there were 111 violent crime cases and 978 cases of property crime reported by the Auburn Police Department in 2022; most were theft. Unlike many college towns, Auburn does not have a separate police agency for the university. “Our public safety philosophy is that everyone matters to us,” Mayor Anders says. “It’s something we work extremely hard on. We have very strategic partnerships with other agencies to protect the perimeter of our community.” Hot summers and mild winters are the norm, and, although inland, the city's proximity to the Gulf of Mexico means it can still experience heavy rainfall and high winds from hurricanes and tropical storms. Flood insurance is mandatory in some areas.
Written By
Brendan Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Kristinah Archer
Video By
Maurice Boone
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Reach out to
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On average, homes in Auburn, AL sell after 65 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Auburn, AL over the last 12 months is $419,951, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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