Burlington, NC Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 174,286 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Burlington, NC Metro Area

What is the median household income in Burlington, NC Metro Area?: The median household income in Burlington, NC Metro Area is $64,445 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Burlington, NC Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Burlington, NC Metro Area is 10.4% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Burlington, NC Metro Area?: $221,200 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Burlington, NC Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Burlington, NC Metro Area is $1,007 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Burlington, NC Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 27.7% of adults in Burlington, NC Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

174,286

Median Income

$64,445

Median Home Value

$221,200

Poverty Rate

10.4%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

4.9%

Median Age

38.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$14,757 (+29.7%) Home Value: +$66,400 (+42.9%) Poverty Rate: -2.0 pp (-16.1%) Bachelor's+: +2.9 pp (+11.7%) Unemployment: -0.4 pp (-7.5%)

Demographics

Total Population 174,286

Median Age 38.0

Female 52.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 14.8% White (non-Hisp.) 59.5% Black 19.9% Asian 1.7% Two or More 6.7% Other 8.4%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Indian

0.4%

Chinese

0.3%

Vietnamese

0.2%

Filipino

0.1%

Korean

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

8.9%

Puerto Rican

1.0%

Cuban

0.3%

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

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $64,445 ±$2,226

Per Capita Income $84,385

Median Family Income $81,569

Poverty Rate 10.4%

Child Poverty Rate 15.7%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 13.4%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 26.0%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

5.3%

$10–15k

3.9%

$15–25k

8.1%

$25–35k

9.1%

$35–50k

12.6%

$50–75k

18.1%

$75–100k

14.0%

$100–150k

17.2%

$150–200k

6.4%

$200k+

5.5%

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

Housing

Total Housing Units 75,456

Owner-Occupied 65.6%

Renter-Occupied 34.4%

Vacancy Rate 9.3%

Median Home Value $221,200

Median Gross Rent $1,007

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 16.1%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 37.3%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

7.8%

$50–100k

7.3%

$100–200k

12.2%

$200–300k

27.1%

$300–500k

21.7%

$500k–$1M

6.6%

$1M+

0.8%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

9.3%

$500–1k

40.0%

$1–1.5k

37.7%

$1.5–2k

8.2%

$2–2.5k

2.4%

$2.5–3.5k

0.4%

$3.5k+

2.0%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

4.4%

1 vehicle

31.6%

2 vehicles

36.0%

28.0%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

65.3%

Single-fam. att.

3.4%

2–4 units

2.2%

5–19 units

5.0%

20+ units

4.9%

Mobile home

12.0%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

6.7%

1940–1969

4.5%

1970–1999

11.6%

2000–2009

16.9%

2010+

12.6%

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

Education

High School or Higher 88.5%

Bachelor's or Higher 27.7%

Graduate Degree 8.9%

Some College / Associate 20.8%

Less Than High School 4.6%

Enrolled in School —

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

Employment

Labor Force Participation 63.1%

Unemployment Rate 4.9%

Work from Home 9.2%

Self-Employed 4.8%

Government Workers 14.0%

Private For-Profit 81.0%

Industry

Edu/Health

26.5%

Manufacturing

13.6%

Retail

12.9%

Prof. Services

9.0%

Arts/Entmt.

8.7%

Construction

7.7%

Finance

4.9%

Transportation

4.6%

Public Admin

3.5%

Wholesale

2.3%

Information

1.0%

Agriculture

0.5%

Occupation

Management

36.1%

Sales

21.5%

Food Prep

16.7%

Production

15.9%

Construction

9.7%

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

Commute

Median Travel Time 25.6 min

Drove Alone 80.1%

Carpool 8.4%

Public Transit 0.1%

Work from Home 9.2%

Walked 1.4%

Bicycle —

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

Households & Families

Total Households 68,441

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 46.6%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 18.1%

Multigenerational —

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

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.7%

5–9

5.9%

10–14

6.7%

15–19

7.6%

20–24

6.7%

25–34

12.7%

35–44

12.1%

45–54

12.6%

55–64

6.8%

65–74

6.3%

75–84

10.0%

85+

5.1%

Under 18: 22.3% Working age (18–64): 77.7% 65 and over: 16.9%

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

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 9.1%

Naturalized Citizen 38.5%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 5.8%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

69.8%

Asia

14.7%

Africa

7.1%

Europe

6.6%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 6.9%

With a Disability 12.4%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 90.1%

Uninsured 9.9%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 88.2%

Has a Computer 94.2%

Same House 1 Year Ago 87.9%

Moved from Abroad 0.5%

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