Rents are 4% below what Auburn's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,157 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
March. Asking rents in Auburn usually run 1.3% below trend in March and 1% above it in September, about $50 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Auburn is 1.1% below its high of $2,182 in August 2026, at $2,157 as of September 2026.
Rent in Auburn changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($82,674) is $2,067 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,960); a 3-bedroom is $2,670.
Citrus Heights, 21 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,883/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Auburn. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Auburn, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 40.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Auburn, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Auburn, CA stood at $1,674 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,157, reflecting a 28.9% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $82,674 today, compared with $72,409 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 37.6% of households, compared with 39.1% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $2,157/mo, how Auburn rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Auburn rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Auburn. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Auburn
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Auburn is $2,157/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,490/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,570/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,670/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($82,674/yr), Auburn ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Auburn rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,157/mo, rent takes ~31% of Auburn's median household income ($82,674/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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