Quality of Life in Auburn

Auburn has been able to balance its small town flavor with solid patterns of economic growth. It has been able to avoid urban sprawl and the unnecessary destruction of natural spaces through the use of smart and strategic economic growth practices. This type of economic development and the high quality of life that Auburn has been able to provide its citizens has been recognized by multiple well respected publications. For example, in 2011 Bloomsberg Businessweek dubbed Auburn as the "Best Affordable Place in Alabama." In 2010, Forbes Magazine recognized Auburn as the "#6 Best Small Place for Business and Careers in the U.S." Forbes Magazine also recognized Auburn a year earlier in 2009 as being "#1 In Projected Job Growth in The U.S." This same year, U.S. News and World Report recognized Auburn as being one of their "Top 10 Best Places to Live in the U.S." Auburn has more than demonstrated that it is a safe, cost-effective place to live and raise a family.

Auburn University is home to states largest university in Alabama. AU is a comprehensive land-grant, doctoral-granting institution that is classified as a research institution with "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation.

Location         

Auburn is located in east central Alabama: 115 miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia; 60 miles northeast of Montgomery, Alabama; 40 miles northwest of Columbus, Georgia; and 120 miles southeast of Birmingham, Alabama. 

Climate

Auburn enjoys a warm and sunny climate with mild winters. Auburn has an average annual rainfall of 53 inches (1,346 mm) and an average annual temperature of 64° F.

Transportation

Auburn is connected to major metropolitan areas by Interstate 85 and US Highway 280 and has rail service by CSX Transportation.  The Auburn-Opelika Airport with a 5,265 feet lighted runway accommodates small to medium size jets.  Auburn is within 100 miles of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and within 60 miles of two regional airports with commercial service (Columbus and Montgomery).   

Population

According to the 2010 census, the population of Auburn was 53,380 persons.  Fifty-seven (57%) of the population above the age of 25 have graduate or professional degrees.   

Education

Primary and Secondary: The City of Auburn and Lee County offer numerous accredited schools with a variety of programs for special and/or gifted children.    

• Auburn City School District is the fourth fastest growing school district in Alabama and is accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (CASI), and the Advanced Accreditation Commission.

• Auburn High School was voted the #2 Best Public High School in the State and #354 Best in the U.S. by Newsweek Magazine 2010.

• Auburn City Schools was named the "1st SMART Showcase District in the U.S." due to the fact that almost every classroom in the Auburn City Schools district has a SMART interactive white board.
  
  For more information, visit www.auburnschools.org

• Lee-Scott Academy is an excellent private alternative located in Auburn, Alabama. The school is considered to be a college preparatory school that offers quality elementary and secondary school educations. Lee-Scott Academy recently received the AISA Blue Ribbon School designation for the 2010 - 2011 school years.
  
  For more information, visit www.lee-scott.org

• The Village Montessori School is a nondiscriminatory, non- profit school that is characterized by an emphasis on intellectual independence. Students are allowed to choose their activity from a designated set of options. The school promotes parental involvement at every level.
  
  For more information, visit www.villageschoolauburn.com

• Southern Union State Junior College, located in Opelika, Alabama, is a two year public college that operates as part of The Alabama College System. The College offers a variety of programs that allows students to advance to immediate employment or to use their course hours as a transfer to a four year college or university.
  
  For more information, visit www.suscc.edu

Healthcare

The 352-bed East Alabama Medical Center was named one of the top 100 cardiac care hospitals in the United States. 

Recreation

The City of Auburn, through its Parks and Recreation Department, offers a variety of athletic programs and recreation activities. Auburn maintains and offers a variety of services through multiple recreation facilities, 11 parks, six walking trails, and more than 44 miles of bike paths. Some other areas of recreation within Auburn include: 40 tennis courts; an award winning softball complex; two soccer complexes; two baseball complexes, two swimming pool facilities, recreation centers, and many others for adults and children. Chewacla State Park, adjacent to Auburn, offers 690 acres of park land with picnicking, boating, swimming, and hiking. Nearby Tuskegee National Forest offers biking trails, picnicking and other attractions. Lake Martin which is a 40,000 acre lake for boating and fishing is within 30 minutes of Auburn

Golf

The Auburn/Opelika area offers approximately 162 holes of golf on public and private courses.

Auburn Links

• 2005 Golf Digest - "1 Metro Area in America for Golf"
• 2008 Golf Digest - "4 - Star Golf Course"