Burlington receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Sedro-Woolley
Burlington
Opportunity
61 · Top 41%
vs61 · Top 41%
Growth
49 · Bottom 48%
vs80 · Top 5%
Climate
74 · Top 35%
vs74 · Top 35%
Physical resilience
32 · Bottom 25%
vs31 · Bottom 24%
Housing affordability
64 · Bottom 26%
vs55 · Bottom 14%
Access
58 · Bottom 6%
vs60 · Bottom 7%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 39%
vs56 · Bottom 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Sedro-Woolley | Burlington | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,831 | 10,003 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $80,885 | $80,475 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,429 | $36,525 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,952/sq mi | 2,337/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $441,700 | $466,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,525 | $1,746 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.1% | 44.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.2% | -0.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 20.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 14.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 26 | 200 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.0 | 20.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -29.7% | 38.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 69°F | 69°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 19.9" | 19.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 68 mi | 65 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 25.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.0 | 35.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.21 | 16.67 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 54.1% | 59.6% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Sedro-Woolley
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, coastal flooding.
Burlington
Elevated or high exposure: volcanic activity, earthquake, coastal flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Sedro-Woolley
56
Your Score
55
Area Score
Burlington
59
Your Score
58
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Sedro-Woolley, WA · Burlington, WA · How this is calculated: methodology