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Living in
Burbank.
About
Life in Burbank
If you're looking at Burbank, you're essentially choosing a quieter edge of the Chicago metro area with easy access to the city but without the intensity of urban living. The trade-off is real though: you're less than two miles from Midway Airport, which means aircraft noise is part of the daily experience here. The median commute time of about 33.5 minutes reflects that most residents work elsewhere—this is a bedroom community with Pace bus service connecting you to jobs across the southwest side and suburbs, so car dependency is moderate but real.
Burbank at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Foreign-Born
32.8%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics32.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Burbank: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Burbank, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (48.4%), and 40.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.3%
of households
Married Couples
53.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.99
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IL
Rent, home values, and income in Burbank
Rent and home values here are close to the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
103.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,992
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
80.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1965
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $313,489 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Burbank and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Burbank is 0.5 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Burbank Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area
Commute31.3 min avg
How Burbank residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Burbank, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Medium hub9.4M passengers boarded in 2025
- 18 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 52% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Burbank runs 52% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
158.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,755.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Burbank Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 55 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
100.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cook County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cook County, which includes Burbank, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 55 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55 | Flood | $494.9M |
| 2024 | 57 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 40 | Thunderstorm Wind | $550.0M |
| 2022 | 51 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2021 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 36 | Flood | $20,000 |
| 2018 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $300,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cook County, county-wide
Burbank is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Cook County, which includes Burbank, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
149
per year
Moderate Days
191
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Cook County, county-wide
Burbank is less than 1% of Cook County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Burbank has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
36°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.9"
Annual Snowfall
38.8"
Hot Days/Year
21
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 20°F | 2.30" |
| Feb | 37°F | 23°F | 2.12" |
| Mar | 48°F | 32°F | 2.66" |
| Apr | 60°F | 42°F | 4.15" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.75" |
| Jun | 81°F | 63°F | 4.53" |
| Jul | 85°F | 68°F | 4.02" |
| Aug | 83°F | 67°F | 4.10" |
| Sep | 77°F | 59°F | 3.33" |
| Oct | 64°F | 47°F | 3.86" |
| Nov | 50°F | 35°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 38°F | 25°F | 2.33" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Burbank
Uninsured
11.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Burbank's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Advocate Christ Hospital & Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Oak Lawn
Osf Little Company of Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Evergreen Park
Holy Cross Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Chicago
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Burbank
Burbank's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 15.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Burbank (within 15 miles)
University of Illinois Chicago
10.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,170 students · in-state tuition $14,652 · 70% graduate · median earnings $73,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 14,090 students · in-state tuition $47,676 · 68% graduate · median earnings $75,602 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $73,962 · 96% graduate · median earnings $103,872 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,368 students · in-state tuition $37,344 · 54% graduate · median earnings $48,427 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,406 students · in-state tuition $13,020 · 46% graduate · median earnings $52,883 (10 yrs after entry)
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
14.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,372 students · in-state tuition $4,710 · 27% graduate · median earnings $47,007 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pullman National Historical Park, 9 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Burbank
Burbank has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pullman National Historical Park (9 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
9 mi awayIndiana Dunes National Park
National Park
35 mi awayPublic Libraries in Burbank
Prairie Trails Public Library District
8449 South Moody Avenue, Burbank
Cities Near Burbank
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Burbank?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Burbank FAQ
Is Burbank, Illinois affordable?⌄
Burbank's median rent is $1,265/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $80,116/year. Median home value is $275,700.
Is Burbank, Illinois safe?⌄
Burbank's violent crime rate was 158 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1756 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Burbank, Illinois?⌄
Burbank has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Burbank, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Burbank is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,265/month and median household income is $80,116/year. The median home value is $275,700. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Burbank, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Burbank is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from