Metro area profile · North Carolina
Burlington, NC metro area market data
How the Burlington metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 186,177
- +8.5% since 2020
- Households
- 70,062
- Median household income
- $65,651
- +32.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $241,500
- Jobs located here
- 69,257
- Highest market score
- 81
- Insurance agencies, #33 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Burlington metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Burlington metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Burlington metro area has an estimated 186,177 people and 70,062 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Burlington metro area grew 8.5%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Burlington metro area is $65,651, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 32.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Burlington metro area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Of the business types scored in the Burlington metro area, insurance agencies (81), pet grooming and boarding businesses (78) and pest control companies (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #33 of 387 scored metro areas.
The Burlington metro area is made up of one county, Alamance County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for oil change and quick-lube shops (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for primary care and pediatric clinics (49% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Burlington metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Burlington metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 81 | #33 of 387 | 95 | 13.6 | $1.9M | 155 | 63 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 78 | #19 of 386 | 16 | 2.3 | $3.6M | 142 | 10 |
| Pest control | 76 | #20 of 345 | 9 | 1.3 | $10.8M | 105 | 4 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 74 | #39 of 387 | 26 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 158 | 43 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 73 | #39 of 387 | 379 | 54.1 | $193K | 127 | 137 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 73 | #41 of 381 | 15 | 2.1 | $4.4M | 143 | 16 |
| Physical therapy | 70 | #61 of 386 | 26 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 117 | 11 |
| House cleaning | 69 | #51 of 375 | 12 | 1.7 | $8.1M | 126 | 40 |
| Pet businesses | 68 | #62 of 387 | 60 | 8.6 | $962K | 109 | 35 |
| Chiropractors | 66 | #77 of 386 | 23 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 133 | 14 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 66 | #90 of 387 | 56 | 8.0 | $1.7M | 103 | 119 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 65 | #83 of 386 | 21 | 3.0 | $3.5M | 111 | 8 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 64 | #66 of 373 | 18 | 2.6 | Index only | 143 | 9 |
| Real estate | 63 | #70 of 387 | 180 | 25.7 | Index only | 129 | 108 |
| Pet stores | 63 | #101 of 382 | 12 | 1.7 | $4.8M | 106 | 5 |
| Auto repair shops | 60 | #111 of 387 | 159 | 22.7 | $415K | 93 | 59 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 60 | #134 of 385 | 35 | 5.0 | $2.8M | 95 | 75 |
| Spas and skin care | 59 | #107 of 387 | 59 | 8.4 | $993K | 113 | 11 |
| Property management | 59 | #109 of 374 | 18 | 2.6 | Index only | 100 | 27 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 59 | #120 of 387 | 57 | 8.1 | $4.3M | 116 | 35 |
| Child care and preschools | 59 | #126 of 387 | 24 | 3.4 | $1.1M | 113 | 42 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 58 | #105 of 387 | 144 | 20.6 | Index only | 128 | 65 |
| Car washes and detailing | 58 | #140 of 387 | 31 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 85 | 9 |
| Gas stations | 58 | #142 of 387 | 100 | 14.3 | $2.1M | 90 | 71 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 53 | #172 of 387 | 69 | 9.8 | $1.1M | 108 | 57 |
| Auto repair and car care | 53 | #187 of 387 | 284 | 40.5 | $232K | 87 | 93 |
| Funeral homes | 52 | #162 of 377 | 15 | 2.1 | $649K | 96 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 52 | #181 of 384 | 23 | 3.3 | $2.5M | 92 | 20 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 51 | #157 of 347 | 11 | 1.6 | $4M | 99 | 18 |
| Convenience stores | 51 | #198 of 387 | 64 | 9.1 | $6.3M | 80 | 13 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 49 | #203 of 387 | 88 | 12.6 | $2.8M | 91 | 144 |
| Pizza | 49 | #204 of 387 | 50 | 7.1 | $4.9M | 96 | 144 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 49 | #206 of 387 | 61 | 8.7 | $4M | 97 | 38 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #212 of 387 | 345 | 49.2 | $170K | 80 | 40 |
| Electricians | 46 | #226 of 383 | 20 | 2.9 | $9.4M | 78 | 46 |
| Roofing and gutters | 45 | #233 of 381 | 31 | 4.4 | $6.1M | 72 | 14 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 45 | #235 of 387 | 138 | 19.7 | $2.9M | 87 | 45 |
| Barbershops | 45 | #249 of 387 | 34 | 4.9 | $1.7M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #232 of 387 | 677 | 96.6 | $361K | 97 | 321 |
| Nail salons | 44 | #253 of 387 | 56 | 8.0 | $1M | 63 | 5 |
| Gyms | 44 | #258 of 387 | 47 | 6.7 | $940K | 72 | 18 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 43 | #250 of 387 | 45 | 6.4 | $4.2M | 88 | 77 |
| Hair salons | 43 | #263 of 387 | 191 | 27.3 | $307K | 71 | 23 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 43 | #265 of 387 | 90 | 12.8 | $491K | 74 | 30 |
| Home repair trades | 42 | #251 of 387 | 96 | 13.7 | $2M | 81 | 137 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 42 | #272 of 387 | 32 | 4.6 | $1.4M | 68 | 12 |
| Grocery stores | 39 | #267 of 387 | 47 | 6.7 | $8.6M | 93 | 32 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 39 | #280 of 387 | 380 | 54.2 | $643K | 97 | 139 |
| Dry cleaners | 36 | #207 of 272 | 8 | 1.1 | $15.4M | 98 | 12 |
| Laundromats | 35 | #275 of 364 | 13 | 1.9 | $9.4M | 76 | 6 |
| Tire shops | 35 | #295 of 386 | 46 | 6.6 | $1.4M | 57 | 15 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 32 | #235 of 290 | 11 | 1.6 | $6M | 44 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 27 | #333 of 387 | 163 | 23.3 | $754K | 59 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 27 | #337 of 387 | 201 | 28.7 | $611K | 69 | 105 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.6 | $18.3M | 75 | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Burlington metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $66M | $942 | 98 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $214.6M | $3,063 | 118 |
| Food away from home | $244.5M | $3,490 | 86 |
| Groceries | $404.7M | $5,776 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $58.6M | $836 | 83 |
| Child care and other personal services | $27.2M | $389 | 67 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $44.2M | $631 | 64 |
| Medical and dental services | $73.2M | $1,044 | 81 |
| Pets | $57.7M | $823 | 91 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $122.8M | $1,753 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $184.3M | $2,630 | 134 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $188.1M | $2,685 | 89 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $97M | $1,385 | 98 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $1B | $14,303 | 86 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Burlington metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 186,177+8.5% since 2020
- Households
- 70,062
- Median age
- 39.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 65%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 424 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 418
- Median household income
- $65,651+32.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $85,032
- Median home value
- $241,500
- Jobs located here
- 69,257
- Daytime population
- 166,616Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Burlington metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Burlington metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Burlington metro area 1
- Alamance County, NC176,893 people
Other markets based in North Carolina 12
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area2,768,407 people
- Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area1,487,302 people
- Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area786,419 people
- Winston-Salem, NC metro area689,766 people
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area601,724 people
- Wilmington, NC metro area453,347 people
- Asheville, NC metro area414,711 people
- Fayetteville, NC metro area392,380 people
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area368,316 people
- Jacksonville, NC metro area207,906 people
- Greenville, NC metro area177,193 people
- Rocky Mount, NC metro area144,952 people
Questions
How fast is the Burlington, NC metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Burlington metro area at 186,177 people in 2025, up 8.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 70,062 households. Median household income rose 32.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Burlington, NC metro area spend?
Households in the Burlington metro area spend about $1B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $404.7M on groceries and $244.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Burlington metro area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 134, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (64).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Burlington, NC metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Burlington metro area are for insurance agencies (81), pet grooming and boarding businesses (78) and pest control companies (76). The Burlington metro area ranks #33 of 387 scored metro areas for insurance agencies.
How does the Burlington, NC metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Burlington metro area is $65,651 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 8.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $241,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Burlington metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for oil change and quick-lube shops (2.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for primary care and pediatric clinics (49% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 54 of the 56 business types have a score in the Burlington metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Burlington metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in North Carolina · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Burlington metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Burlington metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.