City Report · WA

Burlington

Pop. 10,003·54th most expensive in Washington·Burlington rents are up 8.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,059/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$127

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Burlington · $2,059

More expensive than 63% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

31% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,059/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$82,000/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 $2,059 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 Washington

Rent in Burlington changed +8.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($80,475) is $2,012 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,760); a 3-bedroom is $2,470.

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

$24,708/yr

At $2,059/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.0% YoY, +1.2% 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

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View Burlington rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Burlington on your salary?

At $2,059/mo, how Burlington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 32.9% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 16% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 12.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 35.1% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 38.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 31.6% income

stretched

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: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Burlington is $2,059/mo as of October 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 31% of local median household income ($80,475/yr), Burlington ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.0% 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 $82,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,059/mo in Burlington. The local median household income is $80,475/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Burlington?

Rent in Burlington has risen 8.0% over the past year.

How does Burlington rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Burlington is in the middle among Washington cities for rent, ranking #54 of 109 tracked cities at $2,059/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Burlington changed +8.0%, against a typical +2.6% across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks.