CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Butte County

California · 211,632 residents · 1,636.49 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Chico metro area
Compare
The short version

Butte County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $54,972. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $304,700. Households here earn about 30% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 37.9
US median: 38.8
Average education
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
211,632
+4%since 2000
from 203,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
129 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 124 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
37.9
+6%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
178K191K205K218K232K1990201020202024Butte County
2024208K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,972
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,924 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,700
+75%since 2000
from $17,517 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
37.6%
+12.5 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
18.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade6.5%
US avg: 10%
Other services5.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Construction3.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 2%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$304,700
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $116,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,087
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $563 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
56.2%
−4.6 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
43.8% rent
Afford Score
5.5
+52%since 2000
from 3.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Butte County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic80%(162,564)
Black1.3%(2,699)
Hispanic / Latino10.5%(21,339)
Asian3.3%(6,676)
Other0%
Diversity Score34.9%(70,854)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic66%(139,651)
Black1.6%(3,320)
Hispanic / Latino19%(40,112)
Asian4.9%(10,333)
Other5.7%(12,041)
Diversity Score61.7%(130,591)
Segregation Score25%(52,848)
Diversity Score
62
+77%since 2000
from 35 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
25
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.3%
+6.5 ptssince 2000
from 21.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
89.7%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 82.3% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
9.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 7.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.3 min
+49%since 2000
from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.8%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 76.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−5.8 ptssince 2011
from 13.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2011
from 56.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
38.0%
−25.3 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
7.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
6.0%
−78.3 ptssince 2013
from 84.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Butte County

Calcasieu Parish
Pop 208,466
Elkhart County
Pop 208,774
Charlotte County
Pop 217,212
St. Louis County
Pop 200,518
Places similar to Butte County
Head to head

Compare Butte County to nearby counties

BUTTE COUNTY VS
Yuba County
Income$76,373+39%
Home value$412,300+35%
Population88,691−58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTTE COUNTY VS
Glenn County
Income$67,139+22%
Home value$352,400+16%
Population28,141−87%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTTE COUNTY VS
Sutter County
Income$79,704+45%
Home value$433,500+42%
Population98,787−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTTE COUNTY VS
Tehama County
Income$63,784+16%
Home value$339,600+11%
Population64,665−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Butte County, California?

Butte County, California has about 211,632 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Butte County, California?

The typical household in Butte County, California earns about $54,972 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Butte County, California expensive?

In Butte County, California, the median home is worth about $304,700, and the typical rent is about $1,087 a month.

How educated are people in Butte County, California?

About 28.3% of adults age 25 and over in Butte County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Butte County, California?

About 18.2% of people in Butte County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Butte County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Butte County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 29,512 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

54 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 14Census Tract 1.03Census Tract 9.04Census Tract 10Census Tract 27Census Tract 9.03Census Tract 4.01Census Tract 8Census Tract 25Census Tract 1.04Census Tract 5.02Census Tract 15Census Tract 37Census Tract 3Census Tract 28Census Tract 7Census Tract 31Census Tract 33Census Tract 2.01Census Tract 11
20 ZIP codes
ZIP 95926ZIP 95973ZIP 95928ZIP 95966ZIP 95965ZIP 95948ZIP 95969ZIP 95954ZIP 95938ZIP 95917ZIP 95942ZIP 95968ZIP 95916ZIP 95930ZIP 95914ZIP 95978ZIP 95941ZIP 95974ZIP 95929ZIP 95958
Up the hierarchy
All counties in California
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →