Population 76,079 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Burlington
Household size in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.47 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Burlington run a little small, averaging 2.50 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.38, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.9 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Burlington are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The median age has crept up from 38.9 in 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the east and oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.2% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Burlington: 14.7% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.9 points, as it has nationally. Burlington has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of North Carolina cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Burlington
Renters in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.0% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 39.1% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 41.5% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Burlington than nationally: 41.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 42.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 332 North Carolina cities with 5,000+ people, only 27 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Burlington is close to the national rate: 9.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in North Carolina as a whole (11.4%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.5 points, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Burlington are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. Homes here are older than in North Carolina overall, where the median home dates to 1990. The median year built has moved up from 1975 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $741 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $790 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $829 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,096 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$355 | +$528 | +$606 |
The median renter in Burlington pays $1,096 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $355 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.6% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Burlington
Bachelor's degrees in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.0% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.6% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.9 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Burlington than nationally: 26.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 5.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the east.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.7% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.2% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.3% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.9% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in eight adults in Burlington never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.2 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Burlington
| Period | Burlington | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Burlington is close to the national rate: 5.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in North Carolina overall (4.8%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.2 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Burlington compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | 2.50 | 39.5 | 14.7% | 41.5% | 9.1% | 1979 | $1,096 | 26.9% | 86.9% | 5.8% |
| Glen Raven | 2.64 | 31.4 | 15.1% | 38.2% | 11.2% | 1982 | $929 | 21.4% | 83.3% | 4.0% |
| Elon | 2.67 | 33.7 | 4.0% | 25.6% | 17.1% | 1995 | $1,473 | 48.2% | 87.9% | 4.5% |
| Alamance | 2.83 | 40.1 | 3.2% | 17.4% | 3.9% | 1985 | $1,114 | 31.1% | 92.8% | 0.1% |
| Graham | 2.36 | 40.5 | 11.3% | 34.9% | 8.9% | 1988 | $1,065 | 26.1% | 89.1% | 6.2% |
| Green Level | 2.91 | 33.0 | 21.2% | 33.7% | 9.0% | 1983 | $947 | 17.6% | 79.8% | 4.8% |
| Gibsonville | 2.58 | 43.7 | 8.9% | 20.9% | 8.6% | 1996 | $1,360 | 32.8% | 94.3% | 3.9% |
| Elon College | 2.50 | 41.1 | 14.7% | 18.4% | 14.7% | 1991 | $935 | 25.6% | 92.8% | 4.3% |
| Ossipee | 2.49 | 38.3 | 23.0% | 22.9% | 18.6% | 1978 | $780 | 16.6% | 93.5% | 7.7% |
| Bellemont | 2.85 | 37.3 | 5.5% | 14.6% | 8.0% | 1999 | $1,077 | 25.5% | 95.0% | 7.1% |
| Haw River | 2.78 | 37.0 | 14.2% | 23.3% | 10.4% | 1989 | $917 | 21.8% | 80.3% | 3.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Anderson, IN · Rocklin, CA · Wake Forest, NC · Highland, CA · Gary, IN · Mount Vernon, NY · Lodi, CA · Poinciana, FL · Leander, TX · Lacey, WA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Burlington. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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