What are the schools like in Burnham, IL?

Burnham is served primarily by Burnham SD 154-5. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Burnham?

The median household income in Burnham, IL is $53,397 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 12.3%.

What is the weather like in Burnham, IL?

Burnham has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

Burnham, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Burnham, IL affordable or expensive?

Burnham's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Burnham is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $141,900 and the median rent is $1,114 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Burnham, IL?

Burnham has a violent crime rate of 347.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2418.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Burnham, IL a Good Place to Live?

Burnham is a small town of 4,028 in Illinois, with a median household income of $53,397 and a 12.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Burnham stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Burnham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Burnham 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: 102.6

Burnham's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Burnham costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Burnham, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$141,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,114	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	65.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$53,397	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Burnham's violent crime rate is 347.2 per 100,000 residents — 9% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

347.2 /100k

Property Crime

2418.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Burnham is served primarily by Burnham SD 154-5. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Burnham, IL	National Avg
School District	Burnham SD 154-5	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Burnham sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July, with 40.3 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Burnham, IL
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	83.9°F
Annual Precipitation	40.3"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Burnham, IL	National Avg
Population	4,028	—
Median Age	36.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	12.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	37.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	17.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	65.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	15.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	22.5%	22.2%
65 and over	13.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dolton, IL 3 mi Hammond, IN 3 mi Calumet City, IL 3 mi Whiting, IN 4 mi South Holland, IL 4 mi

Burnham vs Other Cities

Burnham, IL vs Dolton, IL Burnham, IL vs Hammond, IN Burnham, IL vs Calumet City, IL Burnham, IL vs Whiting, IN Burnham, IL vs South Holland, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Burnham, IL affordable or expensive?

Burnham's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Burnham roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $141,900 and median rent is $1,114/month.

What is the crime rate in Burnham, IL?

Burnham's violent crime rate is 347.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2418.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Burnham?

Public schools in Burnham are operated by Burnham SD 154-5. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Burnham, IL a good place to live?

Burnham, IL has a population of 4,028, a median household income of $53,397, and an unemployment rate of 12.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Burnham?

Burnham averages 31.1°F in January and 83.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.3 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Burnham?

The population of Burnham, Illinois is 4,028 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Burnham?

Key numbers for living in Burnham: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $141,900, median household income $53,397, crime index 101 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Burnham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.