Auburn, NY Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Auburn, NY Crime

Is Auburn, NY safe?

Auburn earns an overall crime grade of B, which places it in a reasonably safe tier compared to similarly sized upstate New York cities. That said, safety is not uniform across all parts of the city. Neighborhoods closer to the downtown core and areas with higher poverty concentration — Auburn's poverty rate stands at 18% and unemployment at 7.4% — tend to see more reported incidents than quieter residential corridors. The good news: the majority of Auburn's roughly 26,383 residents go about their daily lives without direct involvement in crime. Staying aware of your surroundings, particularly after dark near high-foot-traffic commercial areas, remains the best personal safety practice.

What is the crime rate in Auburn, NY?

Auburn's overall crime profile earns a B grade, reflecting a city that performs better than many peers but still faces real challenges. Property crimes — including theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft — account for the largest share of reported incidents, a pattern typical of cities with a median household income of $43,555 and a median home value of $109,718. Violent crimes, while present, represent a smaller proportion of total incidents. Auburn's population density of 1,222 people per square mile means incidents can feel concentrated in certain corridors. Comparing Auburn to the national average, its B grade signals that crime rates here are below the midpoint of American cities, though not negligible.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Auburn, NY?

While Auburn does not publish granular letter grades by individual neighborhood, patterns from crime mapping data point to a few general observations. Residential areas on the city's outer edges and near Genesee Park tend to report fewer incidents than the immediate downtown and South Street corridors. The historic districts around Auburn — which attract community investment and foot traffic from cultural sites like the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park — benefit from higher visibility and active neighborhood association involvement. Areas with median rents closer to Auburn's citywide median of $743/month and stable owner-occupancy rates tend to correlate with lower property crime concentrations. Regularly checking the Auburn crime map for updated heat zones is the most reliable way to track neighborhood-level safety shifts in 2026.

Is Auburn, NY a good place to live in 2026?

For buyers and renters weighing affordability against safety, Auburn presents a compelling case. A median home value of $109,718 and median rent of just $743/month make it one of the more accessible housing markets in the Finger Lakes region. The city's B overall crime grade suggests that safety, while requiring awareness, is not a prohibitive concern for most households. The tradeoffs are real: an 18% poverty rate and 7.4% unemployment rate create economic stress that correlates with property crime in specific pockets. Families drawn to Auburn's proximity to Cayuga Lake, its arts infrastructure, and its rich history — including ties to abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and William Seward — generally report high satisfaction with community life. On balance, Auburn is a solid choice for those prioritizing affordability and small-city character over urban amenities.

How does Auburn's crime grade compare to other New York cities?

Auburn's B overall crime grade positions it favorably within the landscape of small upstate New York cities. Cities of comparable population and economic profile often score in the C range, weighed down by higher unemployment or poverty rates. Auburn's 7.4% unemployment and 18% poverty rate are meaningful risk factors, yet the city's community policing efforts and relatively low population density of 1,222 per square mile help keep overall incident volumes manageable. For context, a B grade means Auburn outperforms a majority of U.S. cities of similar size on combined violent and property crime metrics — a meaningful distinction for prospective residents evaluating the 2026 housing market.