City Report · KY

Burlington

Pop. 18,008·2nd most expensive in Kentucky·Burlington rents are up 13.5% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$2,149/mo
Year-over-Year
+13.5%
Month-over-Month
-0.8%
vs US Median
+$217
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Burlington · $2,149
More expensive than 67% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
24% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,149/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$86,000/yr
Local median income
$109,308/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Burlington's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,080
1 BR
$1,220
2 BR
$1,580
3 BR
$2,100
4 BR+
$2,310
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,580/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,149 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Kentucky

Rent in Burlington changed +13.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Kentucky cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($109,308) is $2,733 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,310).

Cheaper nearby

Florence, 6 miles away, rents for 29% less ($1,522/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.

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.

Annual cost
$25,788/yr
At $2,149/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 13.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+13.5% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Burlington, KY is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 31.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,008
Median income
$109,308
Median age
37.7
Renters
26.6%
Age distribution
22.1%
22.2%
31.5%
13.2%
Under 1822.1%
18–3422.2%
35–5431.5%
55–6411%
65+13.2%
Gender
50.1%
49.9%
Male50.1%
Female49.9%
Race & ethnicity
84.1%
White84.1%
Black2.8%
Hispanic4.8%
Asian3.8%
Other4.6%
Education (25+)
32.5%
31%
31.8%
No HS diploma4.8%
HS diploma32.5%
Some college31%
Bachelor's+31.8%
Housing tenure
73.4%
26.6%
Owner73.4%
Renter26.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Burlington, KY has changed in 5 years

Income
$90,145 → $109,308
up 21.3%
Population
18,394 → 18,008
down 2.1%
Renter share
23% → 26.6%
+3.6 pts
Bachelor's+
30% → 31.8%
+1.8 pts

Median household income grew from $90,145 to $109,308 between 2021 and 2024, a 21.3% shift. Headcount in the area went from 18,394 to 18,008 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.1% change. About 26.6% of households rent today, against 23% in 2021.

Community

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View Burlington rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Burlington on your salary?

At $2,149/mo, how Burlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Burlington rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Burlington. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Burlington

About renting in Burlington, KY

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Burlington is $2,149/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,080/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,580/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,220/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,100/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($109,308/yr), Burlington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 13.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Burlington?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $86,000/year (about $41/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,149/mo in Burlington. The local median household income is $109,308/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Burlington?

Rent in Burlington has risen 13.5% over the past year.

How does Burlington rent compare to other cities in Kentucky?

Burlington is one of the pricier among Kentucky cities for rent, ranking #2 of 38 tracked cities at $2,149/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Burlington changed +13.5%, against a typical +4.2% across the 26 Kentucky cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Burlington?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Burlington ($2,149/mo) include Erlanger ($1,318/mo), Florence ($1,522/mo), and Fort Wright ($1,659/mo).
Income Affordability
24%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,149/mo, rent takes ~24% of Burlington's median household income ($109,308/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Burlington 24%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4%
Run the Burlington affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Burlington
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Burlington, KY

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