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Living in
Burke.
Burke is an unincorporated community in Fairfax County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Burke
This is a solidly affluent, suburban community where most people are raising families or in the later career stages of their lives—the median age is 41 and nearly 42% of households include children. You'll find strong schools through Fairfax County Public Schools and a well-educated population, with 68% holding bachelor's degrees. The trade-off for that stability and quality of life is cost: median home values sit around $748,000 and rent averages $2,894 monthly, which reflects the area's proximity to Northern Virginia's job market and D.C.
Burke at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Foreign-Born
25.1%
Broadband Internet
98.3%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.1% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Burke: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Burke, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (13.0%), and 11.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.0%
of residents
65 and Older
16.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
11.6%
of households
Married Couples
73.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.20
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 83% above VA average
Rent, home values, and income in Burke
In Burke, rent runs 83% above the VA average, and home values are 95% above the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,311
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
89.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $718,780 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Burke and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Fairfax County, which includes Burke, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Burke: Fairfax County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Fairfax County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Burke is about 4% of Fairfax County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Burke Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute29.4 min avg
How Burke residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Burke, most residents drive alone to work (58%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M 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 67% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Fairfax County Police Department, which covers Burke, runs 67% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
109.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,437.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Fairfax County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 29 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
94.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Fairfax County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Fairfax County, which includes Burke, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 29 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.3M |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2022 | 38 | Thunderstorm Wind | $442,500 |
| 2021 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $613,500 |
| 2020 | 56 | Thunderstorm Wind | $307,000 |
| 2019 | 55 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 53 | Flood | None reported |
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
Fairfax County, county-wide
Burke is about 4% of Fairfax County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Fairfax County, which includes Burke, is typically good — 284 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
284
per year
Moderate Days
80
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Fairfax County, county-wide
Burke is about 4% of Fairfax County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Burke has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/46°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.1"
Annual Snowfall
13.4"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
99
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
116
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 23°F | 3.28" |
| Feb | 45°F | 24°F | 2.62" |
| Mar | 53°F | 32°F | 3.84" |
| Apr | 65°F | 41°F | 3.39" |
| May | 72°F | 52°F | 4.28" |
| Jun | 80°F | 61°F | 4.13" |
| Jul | 84°F | 67°F | 4.26" |
| Aug | 82°F | 65°F | 3.54" |
| Sep | 76°F | 57°F | 4.16" |
| Oct | 65°F | 45°F | 3.51" |
| Nov | 56°F | 35°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 46°F | 28°F | 3.43" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Burke
Uninsured
5.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Burke's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.1 mi away · Falls Church
Northern Virginia Mental Health Insti
Psychiatric · 6.1 mi away · Falls Church
Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 8.7 mi away · Fort Belvoir
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.
Education19.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Burke
Burke's student/teacher ratio is 19.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 68.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
68.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Burke (within 15 miles)
Northern Virginia Community College
4.4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 33,048 students · in-state tuition $6,062 · 30% graduate · median earnings $56,892 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,182 students · in-state tuition $70,170 · 86% graduate · median earnings $96,691 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,569 students · in-state tuition $71,338 · 95% graduate · median earnings $110,516 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,266 students · in-state tuition $62,242 · 79% graduate · median earnings $85,458 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,810 students · in-state tuition $42,986 · 66% graduate · median earnings $74,032 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 1,668 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 28% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (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: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 11 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Burke
Burke has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts (11 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
National Park Site
11 mi awayArlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
National Park Site
13 mi awayFort Foote Park
Park
13 mi awayPiscataway Park
Park
13 mi awayFort Washington Park
Park
14 mi awayKorean War Veterans Memorial
National Park Site
14 mi awayLBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
National Park Site
14 mi awayLincoln Memorial
National Park Site
14 mi awayPublic Libraries in Burke
Kings Park Community Library
9000 Burke Lake Rd., Burke
Pohick Regional Library
6450 Sydenstricker Rd., Burke
Cities Near Burke
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Burke?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Burke FAQ
Is Burke, Virginia affordable?⌄
Burke's median rent is $2,894/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $185,818/year. Median home value is $747,700.
Is Burke, Virginia safe?⌄
Burke is policed by the Fairfax County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 110 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 1438 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Burke, Virginia?⌄
Fairfax County, which includes Burke, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Burke, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Burke is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,894/month and median household income is $185,818/year. The median home value is $747,700. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Burke, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Burke is 29 minutes, which is about 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