The Town FilesBurton, Michigan
City in Genesee County · population 29,715 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,600
- Household income
- $60,052
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 43.7
Burton is a city of 29,715 people in Genesee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $141,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 89% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 88% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Burton ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burton is worth $141,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $60,052, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,009 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,009 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,052 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Burton
| People | Burton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Burton
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1953 about 7.0 miles from the town center and killed 116. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 119 deaths and 905 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 67 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2023.
Severe weather in Genesee County since 1996
Genesee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| January 16, 2016 | Toxic Substances | EM-3375: Contaminated Water |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Genesee County
Genesee County had 133,787 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,798 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Burton itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Burton
16 public schools with 4,235 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burton Glen Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 697 | 23.2 |
| Weston Elementary School | PK-1 | 451 | 18.8 |
| Bendle High School | 9-12 | 322 | 16.9 |
| Atherton Jr Sr High School | 7-12 | 322 | 18.9 |
| Barhitte Elementary School | PK-5 | 317 | 16.7 |
| Atherton Elementary School | K-6 | 306 | 14.6 |
| South Bendle Elementary School | PK-2 | 257 | 16.1 |
| Madison Academy High School (charter) | 9-12 | 240 | 6.7 |
| Gladys Dillon Elementary School | K-3 | 237 | 13.2 |
| Bentley Senior High School | 9-12 | 235 | 16.8 |
| West Bendle Elementary School | 3-5 | 229 | 17.6 |
| Bendle Middle School | 6-8 | 214 | 13.4 |
Towns near Burton
- Flint, MI4.1 mi · 81,252 people · home $53,500
- Grand Blanc, MI4.7 mi · 8,091 people · home $235,500
- Davison, MI5.2 mi · 20,434 people · home $231,700
- Davison, MI5.5 mi · 5,143 people · home $181,200
- Grand Blanc, MI6.0 mi · 39,846 people · home $251,800
- Genesee, MI6.6 mi · 20,581 people · home $125,400
- Flint, MI7.5 mi · 31,447 people · home $158,600
- Atlas, MI7.6 mi · 8,352 people · home $342,100
Burton questions
Is Burton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burton scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 15%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.7).
How much does a house cost in Burton?
The median owner-occupied home in Burton is valued at $141,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,052, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,009 a month.
What is the weather like in Burton?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 52.1 inches of snow.
Does Burton get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1953. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)