Burlington, NC
Census place 3709060 · pop 59,610
A former textile and railroad town that is now the headquarters of medical testing giant Labcorp.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
14.8% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
53.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$56,880 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
88.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
15.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
27.9% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
29.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.75% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
74/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$199,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,344/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+12.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Not measured for Burlington: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Burlington, NC a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Burlington scores 50/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is adult obesity. North Carolina overall ranks #16 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- Is Burlington, NC expensive to live in?
- Burlington has a median home value of $199,200 and typical rent around $1,344/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Burlington, NC?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (40.8%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Burlington, NC best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+12.3%) — 85/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: A former textile and railroad town that is now the headquarters of medical testing giant Labcorp.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.