Reviewed by: Caleb Turrentine
Auburn ranked among the South’s best college towns for 2026
Reading time: 2 minutes
Auburn continues to earn national recognition for the traditions and community that make it the “Loveliest Village on the Plains.”
Most recently, the city of Auburn ranked No. 9 on Southern Living’s list of the South’s Best College Towns for 2026, a reader-voted ranking that highlights communities blending campus life with vibrant downtown culture.
More than 17,000 Southern Living readers participated in the survey, which was conducted between July 9 and Sep. 9, 2025.
Auburn
The city of Auburn, Alabama is home to Auburn University and is known for traditions that bring together students, alumni and visitors alike.
Southern Living highlighted the celebration at Toomer’s Corner, where fans roll the historic oak trees after big Auburn Tigers sports victories.
The tradition takes place at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue, where downtown Auburn meets the university campus.
“This close-knit east Alabama community is known for rolling out the welcome wagon to visitors as easily as they roll Toomer’s Corner after a big Auburn Tigers football win.”
Southern Living
South’s best college towns for 2026
According to Southern Living readers, the top 10 college towns in the South are:
- Athens, Georgia
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- Boone, North Carolina
- Clemson, South Carolina
- Gainesville, Florida
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Auburn, Alabama
- Oxford, Mississippi
Make sure to check out what other college towns across the South joined Auburn on the list. And catch up on some of the other recent news from around the Plains including:
- Lake Martin property to reopen as boutique hotel and private summer club
- New movie “ABLE,” filmed around Auburn-Opelika, tells inspiring true story
- Red Clay Brewing Company reopening in Opelika under new ownership
- Auburn students camping out in the cold ahead of Iron Bowl of Basketball
Curious what other Alabama communities have landed on national “best of” lists? Check out five Alabama small towns nominated for various USA Today 10 Best lists and how to vote.
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