Relocation Guide
Moving to Auburn, AL
Cost of living, jobs, schools, and everything else you need to know before you relocate — from a team that’s never left.
Every year we help people move to Auburn from all over the country — relocating for a job, following a student to campus, retiring somewhere warmer, or just tired of paying big-city prices. Here's what you actually need to know before you get here, from the people who never left.
9% Lower
Cost of Living vs. U.S. Average
#3
Best School District in Alabama
24,600+
Students at Auburn University
Cost of Living
Auburn runs about 9% below the national average and roughly 21% below the Alabama state average for overall cost of living — which surprises people, since it's often assumed a college town costs more. Housing is the biggest driver: it runs about 26% below the national average, with food, utilities, and transportation each landing in the 12–13% below-average range too.
| Category | Typical Monthly Cost (Single) |
|---|---|
| Housing | ~$882 |
| Food | ~$347 |
| Utilities, transportation & healthcare | ~$768 |
| Overall (single person) | ~$2,259 |
| Overall (family of four) | ~$4,974 |
Source: Salary.com Cost of Living Index, 2026 data.
Jobs & Major Employers
Auburn's economy isn't just the university, though Auburn University is by far the region's largest employer with over 5,300 full-time staff and consistently ranks among the top 100 employers nationally. Just down the road, East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika employs over 3,000, and the area has a genuinely diverse manufacturing base — more than 40 small to mid-sized advanced manufacturing firms employing around 4,400 people across automotive, aerospace, defense, and electronics. Mando America (automotive brakes and steering), Thermo Fisher Scientific, and MasterBrand Cabinets are among the larger names. The metro added hundreds of jobs and won a regional economic development award in the last two years — this is a growing market, not a sleepy one.
Schools
If schools are part of your decision, Auburn delivers. Auburn City Schools ranks #3 among all school districts in Alabama (Niche) and holds a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger, with math and reading proficiency scores roughly double the state average. Auburn High School alone ranks in the top 30 high schools statewide. Wrights Mill Road, Creekside, and Pick Elementary are consistently the top-rated elementary options, which is worth keeping in mind when you're comparing neighborhoods — school zoning can matter as much as square footage.
Climate & Lifestyle
Expect a classic Southern climate: mild, short winters (light frost more common than snow), and hot, humid summers that make a pool or covered porch feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity. Fall is the main event — not just for weather, but because Auburn is a football town, and the entire local calendar bends around home game Saturdays each September through November.
Before You Move: Our Relocation Checklist
1
Pick your neighborhood before you fall for a house. Auburn and Opelika each have very different personalities by area — see our full neighborhoods guide before you start touring.
2
Get pre-approved early. Check current rates in our market data & rate update so your budget matches reality before you start shopping.
3
Plan around football season. If you're touring homes or closing in the fall, build home football Saturdays into your timeline — parking, traffic, and even showing availability shift on game days.
4
Check school zoning, not just district rank. Auburn City Schools rank well overall, but individual elementary zones vary — confirm the exact zoned school for any home you're serious about.
5
Budget for Alabama's property tax and utility setup. Property taxes here run well below the national average, but you'll still need to register your vehicle and set up new utility accounts within your first few weeks.
6
Know your airport options. Auburn-Opelika has a small regional airport; most people fly through Montgomery (about an hour away) or Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta (roughly 90 minutes) for a bigger range of flights.
Still deciding between Auburn and Opelika? Check out our neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown, or reach out and tell us what matters most to you — commute, schools, budget — and we'll point you in the right direction.