At $983/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $983 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($59,000) is $1,475 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,450).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Burlington. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Burlington, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 22.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Burlington, IA has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $48,013 in 2021 to $59,000 more recently. The population has contracted by 1.8% since 2021, moving from about 24,160 residents to roughly 23,728. Renters now make up 29.4% of households, compared with 34.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 22.5% of adults here, versus 20.5% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Burlington on your salary?
At $983/mo, how Burlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Burlington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Burlington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Burlington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Burlington is $983/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,090/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $830/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,350/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($59,000/yr), Burlington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Burlington?
Is rent going up or down in Burlington?
How does Burlington rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Burlington?
At $983/mo, rent takes ~20% of Burlington's median household income ($59,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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