The Town FilesBurlington, North Dakota
City in Ward County · population 1,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,500
- Household income
- $77,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 31.1
Burlington is a city of 1,291 people in Ward County, North Dakota. The median home is worth $243,500, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). It ranks better transit than 98% of North Dakota towns, more upscale than 93% of North Dakota towns, better for families than 92% of North Dakota towns.
How Burlington ranks
Percentile among North Dakota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Dakota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burlington is worth $243,500, above the typical North Dakota town ($167,950). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $77,708, which is more affordable than 23% of North Dakota towns. Median rent is $1,144 a month. 68.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,500 | $167,950 |
| Median rent | $1,144 | $775 |
| Median household income | $77,708 | $68,195 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 68.0% | 68.6% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1973 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical North Dakota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.1 | 39.0 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.1% | 20.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 23.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 1.7% | 5.5% |
| Average commute | 23.3 min | 16.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 87.3% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 4.4°F. About 16.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.1 inches of snow (typical North Dakota town: 44.3 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical North Dakota town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 4, 1974 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 25, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on September 20, 2019.
Severe weather in Ward County since 1996
Ward County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 13, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4660: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 1, 2020 | Biological | DR-4509: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3477: Covid-19 |
| August 19, 2014 | Flood | DR-4190: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 12, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4128: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ward County
Ward County had 31,358 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,491 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Public schools in Burlington
1 public school with 419 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BURLINGTON-DES LACS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 419 | 15.5 |
Towns near Burlington
- Minot, ND6.5 mi · 48,377 people · home $257,100
- Minot AFB, ND11.7 mi · 5,017 people · home —
- Surrey, ND13.2 mi · 1,357 people · home $315,800
- Velva, ND26.1 mi · 1,086 people · home $194,600
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, North Dakota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 54% of North Dakota towns and quieter than 54%. 10.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 31.1).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $243,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,708, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,144 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 83.8°F and January lows 4.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.1 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 4, 1974. The typical North Dakota town has had 11.
- 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)