The Town FilesBurlington, Illinois
Village in Kane County · population 535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $296,200
- Household income
- $84,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 39.8
Burlington is a village of 535 people in Kane County, Illinois. The median home is worth $296,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 94% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 90% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 87% of Illinois towns.
How Burlington ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burlington is worth $296,200, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $84,219, which is more affordable than 11% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,517 a month. 83.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $296,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,517 | $960 |
| Median household income | $84,219 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 16, 1980 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 24, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Kane County since 1996
Kane County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 3, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1800: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kane County
Kane County had 213,795 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,791 a year. Unemployment was 5.1% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Burlington
3 public schools with 1,040 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard B Thomas Grade School | PK-5 | 644 | 16.5 |
| Central Middle School | 8-8 | 396 | 18.9 |
| ALOP | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Burlington
- Hampshire, IL5.5 mi · 7,667 people · home $329,800
- Sycamore, IL6.8 mi · 18,577 people · home $265,700
- Genoa, IL7.0 mi · 5,298 people · home $225,200
- Pingree Grove, IL7.4 mi · 10,365 people · home $320,800
- Lily Lake, IL8.3 mi · 1,032 people · home $418,800
- Maple Park, IL10.0 mi · 1,433 people · home $288,400
- Cortland, IL10.1 mi · 4,398 people · home $233,200
- Huntley, IL10.1 mi · 27,740 people · home $334,300
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 87% of Illinois towns and quieter than 82%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $296,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,219, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,517 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 16, 1980. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)