City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Auburn, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Auburn - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,715
Residents
$46,071
Median income
$118,100
Median home
$866
Median rent (state)

Auburn - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Auburn lands in the 14th percentile for household income and the 93rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

14th
percentile, household income
17th
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
93rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Auburn, KY

Kentucky's Auburn is a small town, with 1,715 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $46,071 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.3%. Auburn's housing stock carries a median value of $118,100, and the median resident age is 36.5 years. About 16.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 48.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 27 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 800% from five years earlier. Auburn reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 302.9 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: the state registers 90.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $866 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Kentucky's average monthly utility costs around $225 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 54.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

1,715 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$46,071 /yr

Poverty 16.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Auburn compare to other US cities?

Where Auburn sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 17% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities
Safety 93% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Kentucky, Auburn ranks #38 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Auburn against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Auburn near the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Auburn ranks #366 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Auburn only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#327 of 485
33rd percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#366 of 520
0th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#311 of 484
36th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#192 of 519
63rd percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#290 of 520
44th percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

14thIncome percentile
93rdSafety percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income · 93rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Auburn's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Auburn's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 66 Avg. percentile National median
Auburn's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Auburn's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$118,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 83% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Auburn $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Auburn, KY Auburn, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Auburn, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Auburn, KY median $46,071/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Auburn, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Auburn, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,715
Median Income
$46,071
Median Home Value
$118,100
Median Age
36.5
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Labor force participation
48.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
302.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
60.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
242.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,550 residents1,600 residents1,650 residents1,700 residents1,750 residents1,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,584 residents 1,742 residents ▲ +10.0%
Auburn's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
27
housing units authorized
Single-Family
27
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
15.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 3
2021 0
2022 28
2023 24
2024 27

Permit volume increased 800% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.2%
Carpool
11.1%
Public Transit
0.8%
Walk
4.0%
Work from Home
2.9%

Based on 648 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Auburn sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$866/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
54.6 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Audubon Park
1,717 people
Doe Valley
1,719 people
Midway
1,748 people
Catlettsburg
1,672 people
Munfordville
1,792 people
Ledbetter
1,630 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Auburn's 1,715 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hancock, MD
1,715 people
Emerson, GA
1,716 people
Fern Acres, HI
1,714 people
Lucasville, OH
1,714 people
Eddington, PA
1,714 people
Homer City, PA
1,716 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Auburn's $46,071 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

El Prado Estates, AZ
$46,071 median income
Weldon, AR
$46,071 median income
Newry, PA
$46,071 median income
Snead, AL
$46,075 median income
Shelter Cove, CA
$46,066 median income
Winters, TX
$46,063 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Auburn, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Auburn, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.1% 7.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.8% White 85.1% Black or African American 5.8% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 7.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Auburn compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Auburn (this city) 1,715 $46,071
Audubon Park 1,717 $107,865
Doe Valley 1,719 $87,757
Midway 1,748 $59,609
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Auburn, KY?

What is the population of Auburn, KY? +

1,715 people live in Auburn, KY according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Auburn, KY? +

Median annual household income in Auburn runs $46,071, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Auburn? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Auburn; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Auburn, KY safe? +

Auburn has a total crime rate of 302.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Auburn, KY? +

Homes in Auburn carry a median value of $118,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.