For many Auburn, California, is a sight for sore eyes, not to mention feet, legs and even horses. Set in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the city of nearly 14,000, is the finish line to some of the most grueling races in the world. “These races are how Auburn earned its title as ‘The Endurance Capital of the World,’ says Joanne ‘Jo’ Barragan, Broker Associate Realtor with eXp Realty of California, who’s lived in the area for 20 years. Residents here live near the 31,000-acre Auburn State Recreation Area near the North Fork American River Canyon, and event venues and museums host festivals and showcase the area’s history.
Auburn, though, isn't just about how much pain a person can handle. The city came to life during the state's gold rush days, and it pays homage to that past with museums and massive concrete sculptures that dot the streets, recreating its history.
Auburn is a city in and the county seat of Placer County, California.
Auburn is a community full of bicycle enthusiasts.
Free community mailboxes can be found around Auburn.
Discover Old Town Auburn: restaurants, shops, and year-round events.
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Homes prices hold steady
The city's population has held steady over the past decade and so to has its home prices, with the average cost rising 1% over the past 12 months. Most homes sit north and south of downtown, and sell for as low as $245,000 to as high as $1.9 million. “There are bungalows, Craftsman-styles, Spanish-styles, farmhouses, horse properties and vineyards,” says Barragan. “You even have homes that have been around for 200 years.”
Embrace the down-to-earth feel of Auburn residences: A fusion of comfort and simplicity.
Auburn invites you to discover homes that embody a relaxed living and scenic beauty.
Modern construction craftsman homes in Auburn can exude style and class.
Beautiful craftsman architecture can be found throughout Auburn.
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Endurance races, 17 parks and entertainment venues
Auburn is home to the Tevis Cup 100-Mile Endurance Equestrian Ride. Held every year since 1955 it is the oldest modern-day endurance ride. Contestants start at Lake Tahoe and have 24 hours to make it to Auburn. Whoever completes the race in the shortest time with a horse that is deemed “fit to continue” wins a silver Completion Award Buckle. There's also the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run. This race begins in Olympic Valley, California and ends in Auburn, drawing contestants from all over the world. The winning time in 2024 was just over 14 hours. The city also holds endurance biking races as well.
Those looking for a more relaxing time outdoors can enjoy the city's 17 public parks, many featuring playgrounds, picnic pavilions and pickleball and tennis courts. Soccer and softball fields are available and a few have walking paths that skirt ponds. More challenging recreational opportunities lie to the south. “What’s wonderful about south Auburn, where I live, is that you’re so close to all the hiking trails that go down to the American River,” says Barragan.
During Christmas, the city hides 50 keys in one of its parks, one of which unlocks Santa’s toy chest, storing gift cards from area businesses. Prizes are awarded to any kid who finds a key, even if it doesn’t open the chest.
Year-round entertainment is found at the Auburn State Theatre, which has provided live performances, film screenings and educational experiences for more than 90 years.
For history buffs, docent-led and self-guided walking tours of Old Town and Downtown are available, and seven museums exhibit everything from Auburn’s early inhabitants to businesses, prominent citizens and athletic hall-of-famers. Located near Downtown, the Gold Country Fairground hosts annual festivals, such as the Auburn Big Time-Pow Wow, featuring a day-long celebration of Native American culture through inter-tribal dancing, native arts and cultural demonstrations.
Experience adrenaline at Auburn Bike Park: A dirt biking haven with scenic jumps.
"Stella, Stella, Stella" is a mural at the Central Square Art Park in Auburn.
Basketball players own the court at Recreation Park in Auburn.
Tons of locals gather at Recreation Park for an afternoon of fun in Auburn.
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Achieving academic excellence within the Auburn Union Elementary School District
The Auburn Union Elementary School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche, serves roughly 1,500 students from transitional kindergarten to Grade 8. The Placer Union High School District earns an A from Niche, and serves just over 4,000 students. Auburn also offers B-plus-rated Maidu Virtual Charter Academy for high schoolers, as well as the Placer School for Adults, which offers a career lab to apply for jobs, academic and career counseling and programs like inmate education and personal enrichment.
Auburn Elementary School is a public school in Auburn, CA.
EV Cain Middle School is a public school.
Colfax High School in Auburn, CA is surrounded by mature pine trees.
Placer High School serves students in the Auburn community.
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Old Town shops and a farmers market
Old Town, one of Auburn’s four business districts, is brimming with artisanal shops, art galleries and restaurants. It’s also an epicenter for community events and stands as a monument to the area’s Gold Rush history, marking where gold was first discovered in Placer County.
Downtown Auburn has a vibrant dining scene. Italian, Mexican and American restaurants share lots with coffee shops, delis and a brewpub. Locally owned boutiques and clothing stores sit near Downtown, with shopping malls like the Auburn Town Center further north, offering chain businesses and Chinese restaurants. Rock Creek Plaza is the spot for department stores and fast-food joints and there are wineries and breweries nearby.
For good eats and good times in Auburn, dine at Izy's Corner Pub.
Old Town Pizza, established in 1999, holds a rich history in Auburn.
Every Saturday morning, Old Town Auburn is the perfect place to find a local farmers market.
Residents can shop for beautiful paintings and photograph at Auburn Old Town Gallery.
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Access to nearby highways, Amtrak and airports
Auburn is anchored by Interstate 80, the main East-West highway, and historic U.S. Route 49 (Grass Valley Highway), is the main North-South highway. Sacramento is about 33 miles southwest and Lake Tahoe 85 miles northeast. Public transportation includes Auburn Transit, which offers fixed bus routes and Auburn OnDemand, a ride-share option that can be booked through the GO South Placer Share app. Amtrak, located on Nevada Street to the west, connects with California Capitol Corridor trains, which travel to San Francisco and other Northern California cities.
Auburn Municipal Airport to the north offers air ambulance services, flight instruction, private charters and rentals and scenic tours. Set about 39 miles away, Sacramento International Airport offers nonstop and direct flights to major U.S. cities and Mexico. Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital is 5 miles northwest of Downtown Auburn.
Low overall crime due to mitigation efforts
According to FBI crime statistics, overall crime rates have dropped from 2022 to 2023. The Auburn Police Department's 2023 Annual Report states that their arrests have risen 26.6%, due to the increased productivity of officers and community-oriented programs like neighborhood watch groups, Flock cameras that read license plates, alerting officers to stolen vehicles and a demo of Obvio, an AI powered traffic trailer that detects traffic violations.
The Auburn Police Department’s Community Action Team has partnered with the Placer County Probation and the Placer County Health and Human Services to address the city’s concerns about homelessness and transients. They use information from the community and city staff to address camp locations, top offenders and trespassing.
Warm summers, wet winters and wildfire prevention
Auburn sits in a thermal belt with average summer temperatures hovering near 72 degrees, though it did break in the 100s in July and again in October 2024. Winters are cool and wet with several days of dense fog, and annual precipitation tops about 37 inches.
Auburn is a high-risk area for wildfire, with the last one occurring during July of 2024. Mitigation efforts are focusing on prevention, with the area’s sole fire department checking that homeowners are compliant with defensible space codes. The city has plans to hire seasonal inspectors to help with the workload.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
