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COUNTY

Butler County

Iowa · 14,049 residents (2025 est.) · 580.138 sq mi
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The short version

Butler County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $73,715. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $165,400. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 43.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,268
−7%since 2000
from 15,305 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
25 / sq mi
−2%since 2009
from 25 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
43.7
+6%since 2000
from 41.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,049 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K15K15K16K1990201020202024Butler County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.2%(737)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(904)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(896)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(921)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(690)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.4%(1,481)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.1%(1,720)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(1,661)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.7%(1,952)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.9%(1,840)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847%(999)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.3%(467)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$73,715
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,883 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,766
+122%since 2000
from $17,036 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
48.8%
+25.7 ptssince 2009
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.389
−2%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade16.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$165,400
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$812
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $351 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
84.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
15.9% rent
Vacancy rate
10.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.5%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 27.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+16%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
61
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Butler County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.6%(15,086)
Black0.1%(13)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(89)
Asian0.2%(31)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(13,493)
Black0.2%(24)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(249)
Asian1.3%(179)
Other2.3%(323)
Diversity Score
13
+172%since 2009
from 5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
12
−18%since 2020
from 15 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.5%(215)
Bolivian0.1%(18)
Guatemalan0.1%(15)
Asian origin
Filipino0.8%(109)
Korean0.3%(36)
Burmese0.2%(23)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(8)
Ancestry
German47.6%(6,793)
Irish10.6%(1,517)
English7%(994)
American5.2%(738)
Dutch4.2%(601)
Norwegian3%(431)
Scottish1.4%(194)
Swedish1.3%(192)
French1.2%(168)
Italian1.2%(167)
Polish1.1%(154)
Danish1%(140)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.7%(93)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(67)
Welsh0.4%(57)
British0.3%(46)
Austrian0.3%(36)
Finnish0.2%(31)
Arab0.2%(29)
Lebanese0.2%(29)
Lithuanian0.2%(25)
Swiss0.2%(24)
Russian0.1%(20)
Portuguese0.1%(18)
Canadian0.1%(13)
Hungarian0.1%(11)
Ukrainian0.1%(10)
Latvian0%(4)
Greek0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.4%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.9%
+11.8 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.7 min
+64%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.5%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.1%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.0%
−19.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
2.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−42.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.3%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.2%
−89.2 ptssince 2013
from 92.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.5%
+16.2 ptssince 2017
from 70.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.3%(1,523)
Married63.4%(3,664)
Widowed3.4%(195)
Divorced6.9%(400)
Women 15+
Never married19.4%(1,157)
Married61.7%(3,668)
Widowed12.4%(736)
Divorced6.5%(388)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Butler County to nearby counties

BUTLER COUNTY VS
Floyd County
Income$68,557−7%
Home value$143,500−13%
Population14,901+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Grundy County
Income$87,205+18%
Home value$198,800+20%
Population12,361−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Bremer County
Income$86,784+18%
Home value$219,600+33%
Population25,296+80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$59,894−19%
Home value$124,100−25%
Population9,868−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Butler County, Iowa?

Butler County, Iowa has about 14,268 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Butler County, Iowa?

The typical household in Butler County, Iowa earns about $73,715 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Butler County, Iowa expensive?

In Butler County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $165,400, and the typical rent is about $812 a month.

How educated are people in Butler County, Iowa?

About 21.4% of adults age 25 and over in Butler County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Butler County, Iowa?

About 9.2% of people in Butler County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Butler County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Butler County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,463 residents, a change of about -9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 704Census Tract 705Census Tract 701Census Tract 703Census Tract 702
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 50665ZIP 50670ZIP 50636ZIP 50619ZIP 50604ZIP 50602ZIP 50660ZIP 50625ZIP 50611ZIP 50608ZIP 50649
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Butler County, Iowa: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy