The Town FilesBurlington, Colorado
City in Kit Carson County · population 3,172 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $208,100
- Household income
- $74,308
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 38.1
Burlington is a city of 3,172 people in Kit Carson County, Colorado. The median home is worth $208,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks easier by car than 85% of Colorado towns.
How Burlington ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burlington is worth $208,100, below the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $74,308, which is more affordable than 96% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,154 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $208,100 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,154 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $74,308 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.7% | — |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 17.0 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 92.9% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 19.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 22, 1957 about 1.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 139 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 9, 1971.
Severe weather in Kit Carson County since 1996
Kit Carson County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4731: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| September 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | EM-3224: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 19, 2002 | Fire | DR-1421: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Kit Carson County
Kit Carson County had 3,013 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,531 a year. Unemployment was 1.8% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Burlington
3 public schools with 768 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington Elementary School | PK-4 | 332 | 18.4 |
| Burlington High School | 9-12 | 220 | 16.9 |
| Burlington Middle School | 5-8 | 216 | 16.6 |
Towns near Burlington
- Goodland, KS30.0 mi · 4,465 people · home $112,700
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 30% of Colorado towns and quieter than 55%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $208,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,308, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,154 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 22, 1957. The typical Colorado 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)