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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Butler County

Iowa · 14,334 residents · 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 $56,473. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $120,100. With a median age of 45.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.8.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,334
−6%since 2000
from 15,305 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
25 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 26 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
45.3
+10%since 2000
from 41.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K15K15K16K1990201020202024Butler County
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,473
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,883 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,186
+77%since 2000
from $17,036 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
36.6%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.1%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade16.4%
US avg: 10%
Information12%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction6.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Transportation & warehousing4%
US avg: 2.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$120,100
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $66,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$628
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $351 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
82.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2000
from 80.4% in 2000
17.1% rent
Afford Score
2.1
+15%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score2.2%(332)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(13,751)
Black0.2%(26)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(183)
Asian0.2%(28)
Other0.8%(111)
Diversity Score6.1%(869)
Segregation Score15.1%(2,162)
Diversity Score
6
+179%since 2000
from 2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
15
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
18.2%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.5%
+11.4 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+56%since 2000
from 15.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.8%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
3.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 4.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
63.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
31.0%
−26.7 ptssince 2009
from 57.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
3.6%
−88.8 ptssince 2013
from 92.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Butler County

Fremont County
Pop 14,208
Moffat County
Pop 13,122
Clark County
Pop 15,114
De Witt County
Pop 15,118
Places similar to Butler County
Head to head

Compare Butler County to nearby counties

BUTLER COUNTY VS
Floyd County
Income$68,557+21%
Home value$143,500+19%
Population14,901+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Grundy County
Income$87,205+54%
Home value$198,800+66%
Population12,361−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Bremer County
Income$86,784+54%
Home value$219,600+83%
Population25,296+80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Franklin County
Income$59,894+6%
Home value$124,100+3%
Population9,868−30%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Butler County, Iowa?

Butler County, Iowa has about 14,334 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Butler County, Iowa earns about $56,473 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 $120,100, and the typical rent is about $628 a month.

How educated are people in Butler County, Iowa?

About 18.2% 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 11.1% 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 1,397 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

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