The Town FilesBurlington, Wisconsin
City in Racine County · population 11,047 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $276,600
- Household income
- $83,419
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 40.2
Burlington is a city of 11,047 people in Racine County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $276,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more vibrant than 98% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 95% of Wisconsin towns.
How Burlington ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Burlington is worth $276,600, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $83,419, which is more affordable than 43% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $999 a month. 56.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burlington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $276,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $999 | $951 |
| Median household income | $83,419 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 56.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Burlington
| People | Burlington | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Burlington
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 11.5°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on January 7, 2008 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Racine County since 1996
Racine County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| March 11, 2020 | Flood | DR-4477: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Racine County
Racine County had 76,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,150 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Burlington itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Burlington
7 public schools with 2,794 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington High School | 9-12 | 937 | 14.9 |
| Karcher Middle School | 6-8 | 622 | 14.5 |
| Dyer Elementary | PK-5 | 483 | 13.1 |
| Waller Elementary | PK-5 | 332 | 14.4 |
| Cooper Montessori | PK-6 | 198 | 16.5 |
| Lyons Center Elementary | PK-5 | 159 | 14.5 |
| Wisconsin Connect Charter School (charter) | PK-12 | 63 | — |
Towns near Burlington
- Burlington, WI2.3 mi · 6,465 people · home $302,800
- Rochester, WI4.1 mi · 3,785 people · home $375,700
- Lyons, WI5.7 mi · 3,648 people · home $315,900
- Wheatland, WI6.5 mi · 3,391 people · home $384,600
- Waterford, WI6.9 mi · 5,542 people · home $329,800
- East Troy, WI7.5 mi · 3,992 people · home $369,300
- Waterford, WI8.3 mi · 6,514 people · home $424,300
- Dover, WI8.3 mi · 4,282 people · home $299,700
Burlington questions
Is Burlington, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burlington scores better for retirees than 31% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 2%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Burlington?
The median owner-occupied home in Burlington is valued at $276,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,419, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $999 a month.
What is the weather like in Burlington?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 11.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37.7 inches of snow.
Does Burlington get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burlington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on January 7, 2008. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)