Below Average CostNear National AverageBurlington Comm School District
BurlingtonIA Skyline cropped · Loco Steve (original), Yassie (derivative work) / CC BY 4.0Dodge House - Burlington Iowa · Ian Poellet / CC BY-SA 3.0Snake Alley, Burlington Iowa · Coalfather / CC BY-SA 4.0Crapo Park pumphouse pond - Burlington Iowa (cropped) · Ian Poellet / CC BY-SA 3.0
Burlington is a small city of 23,976 in Iowa, with a median household income of $51,628
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Burlington stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Burlington is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Burlington city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.0
Burlington's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Burlington costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Burlington, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$111,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$902
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,628
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Burlington's violent crime rate is 413.8 per 100,000 residents
— 9% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
413.8 /100k
Property Crime
1825.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Burlington is served primarily by Burlington Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Burlington, IA
National Avg
School District
Burlington Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Burlington sees average highs of 32.3°F in January
and 85.2°F in July,
with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 21.8 inches of snow per year.
Burlington's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Burlington roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $111,600 and median rent is $902/month.
Burlington's violent crime rate is 413.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1825.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Burlington are operated by Burlington Comm School District.
The district has 4 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 21.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Burlington, IA has a population of 23,976, a median household income of $51,628, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Burlington averages 32.3°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches
with about 21.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Burlington, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52601.
The population of Burlington, Iowa is 23,976 with a median age of 42.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Burlington: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $111,600, median household income $51,628, crime index 100 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Burlington side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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