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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Burlington Metro

Burlington, NC · 1 counties · 171,415 residents · 423.455 sq mi
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The short version

Burlington has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $51,580. Population has grown 31% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $160,900.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
171,415
+31%since 2000
from 130,800 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
405 / sq mi
+31%since 2000
from 309 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.3
+8%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
101K122K143K163K184K1990201020202024Burlington
2024177K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,580
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,168 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,944
+44%since 2000
from $19,391 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
34.2%
+10.2 ptssince 2009
from 24.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
15.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade15.8%
US avg: 10%
Information13.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$160,900
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $96,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$822
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $557 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
64.9%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.1% in 2000
35.1% rent
Afford Score
3.1
+27%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic59.8%(102,487)
Black19.6%(33,555)
Hispanic / Latino14.4%(24,703)
Asian1.6%(2,811)
Other3%(5,067)
Diversity Score71%(121,780)
Segregation Score38.4%(65,779)
Diversity Score
71
+35%since 2000
from 53 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
38
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.5%
+10.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
7.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.7 min
+74%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
86.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 81.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
61.6%
−4.1 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
34.9%
−27.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.5%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Female
52.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.9%
−72.5 ptssince 2013
from 83.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+29%
Home value$182,918+14%
Population185,429same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BURLINGTON VS
Muskegon
Income$65,024+26%
Home value$198,300+23%
Population177,901−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BURLINGTON VS
Blacksburg
Income$67,775+31%
Home value$255,151+59%
Population181,616−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BURLINGTON VS
Bowling Green
Income$63,933+24%
Home value$234,323+46%
Population197,180+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Burlington, NC?

Burlington, NC has about 171,415 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Burlington, NC?

The typical household in Burlington, NC earns about $51,580 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 $160,900, and the typical rent is about $822 a month.

How educated are people in Burlington, NC?

About 25.3% 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 15.4% 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 63,202 residents, a change of about 58 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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