The Town FilesWest Burlington, Iowa
City in Des Moines County · population 3,197 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,000
- Household income
- $48,542
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 38.0
West Burlington is a city of 3,197 people in Des Moines County, Iowa. The median home is worth $124,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better transit than 99% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 98% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 98% of Iowa towns.
How West Burlington ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Burlington is worth $124,000, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $48,542, which is more affordable than 30% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 67.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Burlington | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,000 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $800 | $820 |
| Median household income | $48,542 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.9% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Burlington
| People | West Burlington | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.8% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in West Burlington
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.8 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Burlington since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on January 24, 1967 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 38 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 78 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 16, 2015.
Severe weather in Des Moines County since 1996
Des Moines County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| August 25, 2023 | Flood | DR-4732: Flooding |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Des Moines County
Des Moines County had 19,833 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,718 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in West Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in West Burlington
2 public schools with 900 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Burlington Arnold Jr./Sr. High School | 6-12 | 463 | 15.4 |
| West Burlington Elem School | PK-5 | 437 | 15.1 |
Towns near West Burlington
- Burlington, IA2.9 mi · 23,982 people · home $114,300
- Fort Madison, IA16.5 mi · 10,270 people · home $94,200
- Mount Pleasant, IA21.7 mi · 9,274 people · home $160,900
- Monmouth, IL28.5 mi · 8,902 people · home $86,800
West Burlington questions
Is West Burlington, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Burlington scores better for retirees than 7% of Iowa towns and quieter than 2%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in West Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in West Burlington is valued at $124,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,542, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in West Burlington?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 21.8 inches of snow.
Does West Burlington get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on January 24, 1967. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)