Home to Auburn University, Auburn is the fastest growing metropolitan area in Alabama. If you enjoy a college atmosphere, relocating to Auburn is an excellent choice.

Auburn is the largest city in eastern Alabama with an estimated population of 49,928, according to the U.S. Census statistics in 2005. It is estimated the population rose by over 16% since 2000, adding nearly 7,000 people and revealing people are relocating to Auburn. By 2003, Auburn's population had grown by 65% in just 25 years. The population density is on the rise, however. There are 1,098.6 people per square mile in the city. Compare that with the state average of 87.6.

With a large undergraduate program, Auburn University has nearly 20,000 students enrolled annually. That may explain why nearly 61% of all households were non-families, according to the census bureau. The median age of its residents is also affected, averaging 22.6 years, significantly below the state and national average. Just over 77% of the population is white non-hispanic; 16.8% are black. The crime index in 2004 was slightly above the national average. Job expansion since the early 80s has climbed 1,200%, primarily due to increasing industrial employment. The average family income is high at $55,619, but with the student community the average household income drops to $17,206 yearly. About 14% of families and 38% of the population were below the poverty line.

Housing starts in Auburn have soared since 1970. During a 20-year stretch, rapid growth led to the construction of many apartment complexes to cater to students relocating to Auburn. Nowadays, many more students are living off-campus. Less than a quarter of all students live in university housing. The average monthly rent in Auburn is affordable at $446. Home values on average are $138,700. As a rapidly growing area, Auburn has sprawled to approximately 39 square miles from the original two square mile site when the city was founded. The construction of a highway linking to other vital cities helped boost tourism in the 80s. Auburn University was able to schedule more home football games, bringing in more than 100,000 visitors per home game. That adds nearly $100 million annually to the local economy.

You need to know about the weather if you are considering relocating to Auburn. A typical climate for a southern town, residents of Auburn experience mild winters and hot, muggy summers. In January, the average high is 55 with an average low of 32. In late July and early August, high temperatures reach the low 90s on average. The humidity can make it feel hotter. With its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Auburn is on the fringe of many tropical storms and hurricanes. Severe storm activity from late winter through early summer brings torrential downpour and high winds. The city averages 52.6 inches of rainfall per year, but the fall season is usually dry. Auburn seldom sees snow with less than an inch on average each year.

relocating to Auburn is really a choice of lifestyle. With a huge university, you are relocating into a prototypical college town. If you love college football, it is hard to find a better town.

Lou Ross is with relocatingCompaniesforYou.com - information on relocating to Alabama.