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METRO AREA

Burlington Metro

Burlington, NC · 1 counties · 186,177 residents (2025 est.) · 423.455 sq mi
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The short version

Burlington has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $65,651. Population has grown 35% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $241,500.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 38%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
176,893
+35%since 2000
from 130,800 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
418 / sq mi
+35%since 2000
from 309 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.9
+7%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:186,177 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
101K122K143K163K184K1990201020202024Burlington
2024177K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$65,651
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,168 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,547
+78%since 2000
from $19,391 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.5%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.436
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$241,500
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,064
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $557 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.0%
−5.1 ptssince 2000
from 70.1% in 2000
35.0% rent
Vacancy rate
9.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.6%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 43.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.7
+50%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
57
RELATED:See current rent listings in Burlington on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic72.5%(94,768)
Black18.6%(24,356)
Hispanic / Latino6.8%(8,835)
Asian0.9%(1,154)
Other0%
Diversity Score52.6%(68,818)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic58.1%(102,741)
Black19.6%(34,608)
Hispanic / Latino15.3%(27,012)
Asian1.8%(3,208)
Other5.3%(9,324)
Diversity Score74.7%(132,219)
Segregation Score37.2%(65,735)
Diversity Score
75
+42%since 2000
from 53 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
37
−3%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.7%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.0%
+12.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.6%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.9 min
+83%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.9%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.3%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−3.6 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.3%
−2.5 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.8%
−25.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
52.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
9.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−40.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2012
from 14.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−73.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.2%
+16.7 ptssince 2017
from 73.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2016
from 87.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
12.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2016
from 10.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BurlingtonCENTRAL61,496
What's inside

1 component county

Alamance CountyCENTRAL186,177
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Burlington

Abilene
Pop 185,429
Muskegon
Pop 177,901
Blacksburg
Pop 181,616
Bowling Green
Pop 197,180
Places similar to Burlington
Head to head

Compare Burlington side by side

BURLINGTON VS
Abilene
Income$66,693+2%
Home value$182,918−24%
Population185,429same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BURLINGTON VS
Muskegon
Income$65,024−1%
Home value$198,300−18%
Population177,901−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BURLINGTON VS
Blacksburg
Income$67,775+3%
Home value$255,151+6%
Population181,616−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BURLINGTON VS
Bowling Green
Income$63,933−3%
Home value$234,323−3%
Population197,180+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Burlington, NC?

Burlington, NC has about 176,893 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Burlington, NC?

The typical household in Burlington, NC earns about $65,651 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Burlington, NC expensive?

In Burlington, NC, the median home is worth about $241,500, and the typical rent is about $1,064 a month.

How educated are people in Burlington, NC?

About 28.7% of adults age 25 and over in Burlington, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Burlington, NC?

About 13.4% of people in Burlington, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Burlington, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Burlington, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 68,680 residents, a change of about 63 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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