The Town FilesAuburn, Kansas
City in Shawnee County · population 1,273 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,200
- Household income
- $57,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 12 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 37.2
Auburn is a city of 1,273 people in Shawnee County, Kansas. The median home is worth $151,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better for families than 98% of Kansas towns, easier by car than 93% of Kansas towns, better for retirees than 90% of Kansas towns.
How Auburn ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Auburn is worth $151,200, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $57,875, which is more affordable than 26% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $871 a month. 53.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Auburn | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,200 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $871 | $815 |
| Median household income | $57,875 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 53.7% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Auburn
| People | Auburn | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.4% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Auburn
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 36.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.3 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 117 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Auburn since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1966 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 16. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 17 deaths and 483 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 19, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 176 times; the largest was 5.25 inches on May 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Shawnee County since 1996
Shawnee County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 28, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4774: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| March 9, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1885: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorm |
| February 1, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1741: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Shawnee County
Shawnee County had 99,247 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,096 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Auburn itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Auburn
1 public school with 348 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn Elementary | PK-6 | 348 | 10.9 |
Towns near Auburn
- Carbondale, KS8.9 mi · 1,352 people · home $119,400
- Scranton, KS9.8 mi · 653 people · home $75,900
- Burlingame, KS10.8 mi · 971 people · home $86,700
- Topeka, KS10.9 mi · 126,587 people · home $144,200
- Silver Lake, KS13.5 mi · 1,345 people · home $169,300
- Tecumseh, KS15.4 mi · 696 people · home $200,400
- Overbrook, KS16.5 mi · 1,005 people · home $146,300
- Maple Hill, KS16.8 mi · 631 people · home $204,700
Auburn questions
Is Auburn, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Auburn scores better for retirees than 90% of Kansas towns and quieter than 86%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Auburn?
The median owner-occupied home in Auburn is valued at $151,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,875, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $871 a month.
What is the weather like in Auburn?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.7 inches of precipitation a year and 12.3 inches of snow.
Does Auburn get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Auburn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1966. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)