Cost to Own
United StatesNorth CarolinaGuilford CountyBurlington Population 58,599 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Burlington, North Carolina

A $189,000 home here costs

$1,524

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $972. The real number is $553 higher every month — 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Burlington median: $188,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $151,200 borrowed $972
Property tax0.780% effective rate for Burlington itself $123
Homeowners insuranceNorth Carolina averages $1,192/yr (NAIC), or 0.435% of home value $69
Electricity15.09¢/kWh — North Carolina residential average, EIA $136
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $158
Total monthly $1,524

Burlington against Guilford County and North Carolina

MeasureBurlingtonGuilford County
Median home value$188,700$234,900
Median property tax$1,472$2,075
Effective tax rate0.780%0.883%
Median gross rent$1,030$1,108
Population58,599542,987

Burlington extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Guilford County, where most of its housing sits.

The weather behind that power bill

Burlington sits in Guilford County, which averages a high of 88.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 29.8°F in its coldest, with 45.89" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,567 cooling and 3,438 heating degree days, which is what sets the $136 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Guilford County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Guilford County

Full Guilford County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Burlington?

A $189,000 home in Burlington, North Carolina costs approximately $1,524 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $972 principal and interest, $123 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $204 utilities and $158 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Burlington?

Burlington has an effective property tax rate of 0.780%, based on a median home value of $188,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,472. That is lower than the Guilford County average of 0.883%.

What is the average home price in Burlington?

The median owner-occupied home value in Burlington, North Carolina is $188,700, against $234,900 across Guilford County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Burlington?

Median gross rent in Burlington is $1,030 a month, against $1,524 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Burlington — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology