The Town FilesBurlington, Kansas
City in Coffey County · population 2,634 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,300
- Household income
- $50,882
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 40.6
Burlington is a city of 2,634 people in Coffey County, Kansas. The median home is worth $149,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks better transit than 92% of Kansas towns, better for cycling than 91% of Kansas towns, more walkable than 76% of Kansas towns.
How Burlington ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burlington is worth $149,300, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $50,882, which is more affordable than 14% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $834 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,300 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $834 | $815 |
| Median household income | $50,882 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.6 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 89.2% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.7 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 115 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1956 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 4, 1992.
Severe weather in Coffey County since 1996
Coffey County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4891: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
| June 20, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4449: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,And Mudslides |
| May 28, 2019 | Severe Storm | EM-3412: Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Coffey County
Coffey County had 3,367 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,828 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Burlington
3 public schools with 819 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Elementary School | PK-4 | 316 | 13.2 |
| Burlington High | 9-12 | 256 | 11.6 |
| Burlington Middle School 5 - 8 | 5-8 | 247 | 11.8 |
Towns near Burlington
- Iola, KS26.2 mi · 5,396 people · home $78,300
- Garnett, KS28.1 mi · 3,242 people · home $149,100
- Emporia, KS28.2 mi · 24,139 people · home $132,700
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 35% of Kansas towns and quieter than 22%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.6).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $149,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,882, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $834 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 7.7 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1956. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- 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)