City · Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, city, in Des Moines County, Iowa. Burlington had 23,336 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 23,982 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 23,728 (±24). GEOID 1909550.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,336
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 23,982 · ACS 2020-2024: 23,728 ±24
Median household income
$59,000
±$3,730 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$114,300
±$6,434 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$924
±$44 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Burlington and what county is it in?
Burlington is a city in Des Moines County, Iowa. It covers 14.4 square miles of land, 1,664 residents per square mile in 2020.
Burlington is in the Burlington, IA-IL micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Burlington, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,336 people lived in Burlington on July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 23,982 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 23,728 (±24).
| Measure | Burlington | Des Moines County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 23,728 ±24 | 38,487 | −1,246 |
| Households | 11,070 ±297 | 17,178 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.12 ±0.06 | 2.20 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 12,296 ±238 | 18,802 | no clear change |
Burlington's population since 2000
From 26,839 in 2000 to 23,336 in 2025: down 13.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Burlington as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Burlington?
The median resident of Burlington is 42.5 years old; 22.4% are under 18 and 21.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 80.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.6%. 2.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Burlington | Des Moines County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 ±1.3 | 42.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.4% ±1.1 pts | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.5% ±1.1 pts | 21.3% | – |
| Male | 48.7% ±1.3 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.8% ±0.6 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 80.9% ±1.5 pts | 84.5% | −3.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.6% ±1.3 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.2% | +0.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5% ±1.4 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.8% ±1.0 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.2% ±1.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.4% ±1.7 pts | 8.1% | – |
| With a disability | 17.4% ±1.9 pts | 16.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.8% ±1.5 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6% ±1.6 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.5% ±2.2 pts | 23.8% | +3.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.9% ±1.2 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.0% ±2.6 pts | 88.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6% ±0.6 pts | 1.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Burlington earn?
Half of Burlington's 11,070 households earn less than $59,000 a year (±$3,730), against $62,928 in Des Moines County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $58,507 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Burlington | Des Moines County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,000 ±$3,730 | $62,928 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,863 ±$4,987 | $80,523 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,430 ±$2,127 | $35,662 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.2% ±2.1 pts | 12.8% | −7.5 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.8% ±5.4 pts | 16.3% | −19.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.5% ±2.4 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.2% ±1.7 pts | 94.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.4% ±2.2 pts | 87.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Burlington?
Owners occupy 70.6% of Burlington's occupied homes and renters 29.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $114,300 by its owner (±$6,434). The median renter pays $924 a month including utilities, and 40.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Burlington | Des Moines County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $114,300 ±$6,434 | $136,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $924 ±$44 | $904 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.4% ±8.2 pts | 43.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,153 ±$49 | $1,250 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 70.6% ±3.5 pts | 74.6% | +4.5 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 29.4% ±3.5 pts | 25.4% | – |
| Housing units | 12,296 ±238 | 18,802 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.2% ±1.4 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.6% ±3.6 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.9% ±2.2 pts | 78.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.5% ±0.6 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±1.6 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 40.1% ±3.1 pts | 33.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% ±1.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Burlington building?
Builders took permits for 23 new housing units in Burlington in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 1.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Burlington work and get to work?
80.2% of Burlington's workers drive alone and 5.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.
| Measure | Burlington | Des Moines County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.3% ±2.0 pts | 61.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% ±1.6 pts | 3.1% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 80.2% ±3.1 pts | 82.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.3% ±2.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.1% ±0.6 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.2% ±0.8 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.1% ±2.2 pts | 4.2% | +2.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.1 min ±1.6 | 18.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Burlington?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Burlington, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $35,337 (Tract 3) to $78,807 (Tract 9).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5Des Moines County | 4,463 | $63,191 |
| Tract 3Des Moines County | 3,618 | $35,337 |
| Tract 4Des Moines County | 3,464 | $40,893 |
| Tract 6Des Moines County | 3,461 | $61,062 |
| Tract 2Des Moines County | 2,839 | $61,813 |
| Tract 9Des Moines County | 3,351 | $78,807 |
| Tract 7Des Moines County | 3,209 | $78,750 |
| Tract 8Des Moines County | 3,493 | $55,050 |
| Tract 10Des Moines County | 4,643 | $82,232 |
| Tract 12Des Moines County | 2,570 | $90,848 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Burlington) · Census block assignment files
How does Burlington compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Burlington is the 1,702nd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 24th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Burlington ranks 224th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 24th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 228th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 35th | 279 |
| Median household income | 224th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 194th | 279 |
| Median home value | 245th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 88th | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 74th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 166th | 279 |
| Median age | 80th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 177th | 279 |
| Work from home | 194th | 221 |
| Travel time to work | 224th | 279 |
Burlington's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Burlington with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Burlington?
6 of the 57 figures for Burlington on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Burlington are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Burlington.