The Town FilesBurlington, Iowa
City in Des Moines County · population 23,982 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,300
- Household income
- $59,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 42.5
Burlington is a city of 23,982 people in Des Moines County, Iowa. The median home is worth $114,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Iowa towns, hipper than 96% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 95% of Iowa towns.
How Burlington ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burlington is worth $114,300, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $59,000, which is more affordable than 76% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $924 a month. 70.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,300 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $924 | $820 |
| Median household income | $59,000 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 70.6% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 16.1 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 88.5% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 24, 1967 about 9.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Des Moines County since 1996
Des Moines County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Des Moines County
Des Moines County had 19,833 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,718 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Burlington
8 public schools with 3,233 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Community High School | 9-12 | 1,090 | 17.3 |
| Edward Stone Middle School | 7-8 | 471 | 16.2 |
| Aldo Leopold Intermediate School | 5-6 | 424 | 11.8 |
| Sunnyside Elementary School | K-4 | 298 | 11.9 |
| Black Hawk Elementary School | K-4 | 290 | 11.6 |
| James Wilson Grimes School | K-4 | 247 | 11.8 |
| North Hill Elementary School | K-4 | 237 | 13.2 |
| Corse Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 176 | 25.1 |
Towns near Burlington
- West Burlington, IA2.9 mi · 3,197 people · home $124,000
- Fort Madison, IA17.3 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
- Mount Pleasant, IA24.6 mi · 9,274 people · home $160,900
- Monmouth, IL26.2 mi · 8,902 people · home $86,800
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 6% of Iowa towns and quieter than 10%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $114,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,000, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $924 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 21.8 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 24, 1967. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)