City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Burlingame, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Burlingame - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

30,526
Residents
$168,832
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$3,604
Median rent (state)

Burlingame - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Burlingame lands in the 96th percentile for household income and the 27th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

96th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
27th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Burlingame, CA

Burlingame is a small city in California, home to 30,526 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Burlingame households earn a median of $168,832 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.8%. Burlingame's housing stock carries a median value of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 41.5 years. Educational attainment runs 64.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 17 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 15% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2208.9 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $3,604 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Workers in Burlingame report an average commute of 23.8 minutes, with 55.5% driving alone and 24.1% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 99.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

30,526 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$168,832 /yr

Poverty 3.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Burlingame compare to other US cities?

Burlingame measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 96% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% pricier than other cities
Safety 27% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Burlingame ranks #279 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Burlingame against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Burlingame's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Burlingame ranks #1 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Burlingame only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#123 of 1,338
91st percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#50 of 1,458
91st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1 of 1,343
95th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#963 of 1,450
33rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#144 of 1,458
90th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

96thIncome percentile
27thSafety percentile

96th percentile nationally for median household income · 27th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Burlingame's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Burlingame's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 41 Avg. percentile National median
Burlingame's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Burlingame's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$2,000,001 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Burlingame $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Burlingame, CA Burlingame, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Burlingame, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Burlingame, CA median $168,832/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Burlingame, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Burlingame, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 64.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
30,526
Median Income
$168,832
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
41.5
Poverty Rate
3.8%
Labor force participation
65.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
64.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2208.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
183.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2025.7
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
29,000 residents30,000 residents31,000 residents32,000 residents33,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 31,299 residents 31,929 residents ▲ +2.0%
Burlingame's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
17
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
7
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 20
2020 147
2021 446
2022 328
2023 396
2024 17

Permit volume decreased 15% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
23.8 minutes
Drive Alone
55.5%
Carpool
4.7%
Public Transit
9.2%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
24.1%
Other
2.7%

Based on 15,819 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Burlingame sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,604/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Banning
30,680 people
Saratoga
30,335 people
Los Altos
30,736 people
La Verne
30,804 people
Laguna Hills
30,921 people
Lawndale
31,113 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Burlingame's 30,526 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Newington, CT
30,551 people
Franklin Square, NY
30,559 people
Gurnee, IL
30,486 people
Lafayette, CO
30,471 people
Morrisville, NC
30,471 people
Ferry Pass, FL
30,467 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Burlingame's $168,832 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Crisman, CO
$168,750 median income
Jupiter Inlet Colony, FL
$168,750 median income
Green Spring, KY
$168,750 median income
Glendale, MO
$168,750 median income
Lincroft, NJ
$168,945 median income
Gainesville, VA
$168,978 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Burlingame, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Burlingame, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.6% 28.3% 8.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.7% White 55.6% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 28.3% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 5.8% Two or more races 8.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Burlingame compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Burlingame (this city) 30,526 $168,832
Banning 30,680 $57,699
Saratoga 30,335 $241,348
Los Altos 30,736 $250,001
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Burlingame, CA?

What is the population of Burlingame, CA? +

Burlingame, CA counts 30,526 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Burlingame, CA? +

In Burlingame, the typical household earns $168,832 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Burlingame? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Burlingame; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Burlingame, CA safe? +

Burlingame has a total crime rate of 2208.9 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Burlingame, CA? +

Burlingame's median home value sits at $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.