RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · WA

Burlington

Pop. 10,003·51st most expensive in Washington·Burlington rents have dropped 5.3%, currently a renter's market
Median rent (all units)
$2,125/mo
Year-over-Year
-5.3%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
vs US Median
+$163
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Burlington rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Burlington · $2,125
More expensive than 65% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
32% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,125/mo, rent takes about 32% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$85,000/yr
Local median income
$80,475/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
$1,210
1 BR
$1,350
2 BR
$1,760
3 BR
$2,470
4 BR+
$2,680
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,760/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,125 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$25,500/yr
At $2,125/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 5.3% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (-5.3% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Burlington, WA is majority renter-occupied, 20.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
10,003
Median income
$80,475
Median age
35.7
Renters
55.5%
Age distribution
22.3%
26.9%
25.2%
15.9%
Under 1822.3%
18–3426.9%
35–5425.2%
55–649.7%
65+15.9%
Gender
48.5%
51.5%
Male48.5%
Female51.5%
Race & ethnicity
65.8%
28.6%
White65.8%
Black2.1%
Hispanic28.6%
Asian2.5%
Other1%
Education (25+)
29%
41%
20.5%
No HS diploma9.4%
HS diploma29%
Some college41%
Bachelor's+20.5%
Housing tenure
44.5%
55.5%
Owner44.5%
Renter55.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Burlington, WA has changed in 5 years

Income
$58,345 → $80,475
up 37.9%
Population
9,220 → 10,003
up 8.5%
Renter share
50% → 55.5%
+5.5 pts
Bachelor's+
22.6% → 20.5%
-2.1 pts
Median age
36.2 → 35.7
-0.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Burlington, WA now reports about $80,475, up from $58,345 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 9,220 to 10,003 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.5% change. About 55.5% of households rent today, against 50% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 22.6% to 20.5%.

Community

Discussions about Burlington

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

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

Can you afford rent in Burlington on your salary?

At $2,125/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, WA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Burlington is $2,125/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,210/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,760/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,350/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,470/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($80,475/yr), Burlington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Burlington an affordable city for renters?

Burlington is considered moderate for renters. At $2,125/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($80,475/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Burlington slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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 $85,000/year (~$41/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,125/mo in Burlington. The local median household income is $80,475/yr, meaning the typical Burlington household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Burlington?

Rent in Burlington has decreased 5.3% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Burlington rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Burlington is middle-of-the-pack for Washington for rent, ranking #51 out of 110 tracked cities at $2,125/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Burlington?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Burlington ($2,125/mo): Sedro-Woolley ($1,924/mo), Bellingham ($1,956/mo).

What percentage of Burlington residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.5% of Burlington households are renters, while 44.5% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Burlington has a strong rental market.

How does Burlington rent compare to the national average?

Burlington's median rent of $2,125/mo is $163 (8%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #51 out of 110 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
32%
MODERATE

At $2,125/mo, rent takes ~32% of Burlington's median household income ($80,475/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Burlington 32%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
Run the Burlington affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Burlington
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Burlington, WA

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Burlington.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google