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COUNTY

Butler County

Kentucky · 12,520 residents (2025 est.) · 426.112 sq mi
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The short version

Butler County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,092. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 10% 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 $111,100. The poverty rate of 20.5% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
12,393
−5%since 2000
from 13,010 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
29 / sq mi
−7%since 2009
from 31 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.5
+14%since 2000
from 36.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,520 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K12K12K13K14K1990201020202024Butler County
202412K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.1%(755)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(780)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.8%(846)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.8%(723)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(598)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.7%(1,452)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.1%(1,622)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.4%(1,531)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.6%(1,680)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.7%(1,448)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.7%(705)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(253)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,092
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $29,405 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,030
+85%since 2000
from $14,617 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
38.3%
+25.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.421
−4%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade29.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade11.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7%
US avg: 5.9%
Information7%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction3.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services2.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$111,100
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $54,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$679
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $338 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.7%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.6% in 2000
26.3% rent
Vacancy rate
16.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
13.0%
−8.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
29.2%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 40.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
−11%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
36
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-Hispanic97.5%(12,684)
Black0.5%(67)
Hispanic / Latino1%(135)
Asian0.2%(22)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.9%(11,391)
Black0%(2)
Hispanic / Latino5.3%(656)
Asian0.3%(31)
Other2.5%(313)
Diversity Score
19
+60%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
59
+23%since 2020
from 48 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
Guatemalan2.8%(350)
Mexican0.8%(99)
Puerto Rican0.4%(44)
Cuban0.1%(17)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(15)
Asian Indian0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American16.4%(2,032)
English15.7%(1,942)
Irish11.3%(1,404)
German4.8%(591)
Italian1.3%(158)
Scottish1.2%(149)
French0.8%(103)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(88)
Dutch0.7%(82)
Polish0.6%(72)
Norwegian0.5%(65)
Canadian0.2%(29)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Greek0.2%(22)
Swedish0.2%(22)
Welsh0.2%(22)
Ukrainian0.2%(21)
British0.2%(19)
Danish0%(5)
Russian0%(4)
Somali0%(1)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Central American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
9.9%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.1%
+20.5 ptssince 2000
from 60.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.2 min
+33%since 2000
from 20.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.8%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 76.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.7%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 16.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.4%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
8.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 8.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2011
from 10.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 53.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.3%
−22.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
48.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.1%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.9%
−43.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 17.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.8%
−74.7 ptssince 2013
from 86.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.0%
+16.6 ptssince 2017
from 62.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2016
from 95.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 3.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married28.7%(1,479)
Married53%(2,729)
Widowed3.4%(176)
Divorced14.8%(762)
Women 15+
Never married23.7%(1,151)
Married51.6%(2,513)
Widowed13.1%(636)
Divorced11.6%(566)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Butler County

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Pop 13,790
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Pop 14,130
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Pop 11,884
Washington County
Pop 11,583
Places similar to Butler County
Head to head

Compare Butler County to nearby counties

BUTLER COUNTY VS
Warren County
Income$65,794+17%
Home value$258,000+132%
Population149,375+1093%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Ohio County
Income$57,798+3%
Home value$121,400+9%
Population23,934+91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Muhlenberg County
Income$51,927−7%
Home value$127,400+15%
Population30,634+145%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Grayson County
Income$50,757−10%
Home value$164,600+48%
Population27,406+119%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Butler County, Kentucky?

Butler County, Kentucky has about 12,393 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Butler County, Kentucky earns about $56,092 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Butler County, Kentucky expensive?

In Butler County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $111,100, and the typical rent is about $679 a month.

How educated are people in Butler County, Kentucky?

About 9.9% of adults age 25 and over in Butler County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Butler County, Kentucky?

About 20.5% of people in Butler County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Butler County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Butler County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,148 residents, a change of about 10 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

6 census tracts
Census Tract 9301Census Tract 9303.02Census Tract 9302Census Tract 9304Census Tract 9303.01Census Tract 9305
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 42261ZIP 42275ZIP 42273ZIP 42252
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →