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COUNTY

Butler County

Missouri · 41,904 residents (2025 est.) · 694.756 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 $49,089. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% 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 $145,100. The poverty rate of 20.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 31% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% 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
42,020
+3%since 2000
from 40,867 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
60 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 59 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
+2%since 2000
from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:41,904 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
38K40K41K42K43K1990201020202024Butler County
202442K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.5%(2,714)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(2,579)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.7%(2,836)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(2,694)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.8%(2,436)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.2%(5,144)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.9%(5,021)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(5,057)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.7%(5,355)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.5%(4,839)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846%(2,520)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(825)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$49,089
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,228 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,431
+74%since 2000
from $15,721 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.8%
+14.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.461
+2%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade13.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$145,100
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$780
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
64.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2000
from 68.9% in 2000
35.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 45.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.0
+16%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
28
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-Hispanic91.6%(37,435)
Black5.2%(2,105)
Hispanic / Latino1%(412)
Asian0.4%(176)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.9%(36,091)
Black4.7%(1,978)
Hispanic / Latino2.5%(1,035)
Asian0.4%(185)
Other6.5%(2,731)
Diversity Score
32
+43%since 2009
from 22 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
23
−34%since 2020
from 35 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%(626)
Puerto Rican0.2%(89)
Honduran0.1%(58)
Colombian0.1%(42)
Spaniard0.1%(24)
Asian origin
Filipino0.2%(96)
Vietnamese0.1%(54)
Korean0.1%(24)
Chinese0%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.1%(28)
Ancestry
German14.2%(5,985)
English12.6%(5,284)
Irish12%(5,051)
American11.6%(4,867)
Scottish1.7%(719)
Polish1.6%(664)
French1.6%(655)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(481)
Italian1%(438)
West Indian0.9%(369)
Dutch0.7%(309)
Jamaican0.7%(300)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.5%(222)
Portuguese0.4%(184)
Norwegian0.3%(147)
British0.3%(143)
Haitian0.3%(130)
Croatian0.2%(92)
Arab0.2%(84)
Hungarian0.2%(84)
Syrian0.2%(78)
Austrian0.1%(60)
Greek0.1%(27)
Welsh0.1%(23)
Finnish0%(21)
Czech0%(19)
Russian0%(18)
Latvian0%(15)
Ukrainian0%(15)
Slovene0%(11)
Canadian0%(10)
Belgian0%(9)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+14.3 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+64%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.4%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% 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
8.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 57.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.4%
−33.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.9%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
24.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 22.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.0%
−72.3 ptssince 2013
from 85.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.4%
+17.9 ptssince 2017
from 66.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married33.5%(5,452)
Married47.6%(7,760)
Widowed3.3%(531)
Divorced15.7%(2,553)
Women 15+
Never married26.7%(4,704)
Married46.1%(8,112)
Widowed10.9%(1,918)
Divorced16.3%(2,861)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 42,357
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Pop 42,982
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Pop 44,298
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Pop 44,407
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Head to head

Compare Butler County to nearby counties

BUTLER COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$51,481+5%
Home value$94,600−35%
Population14,052−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Ripley County
Income$42,037−14%
Home value$119,600−18%
Population10,717−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Stoddard County
Income$57,957+18%
Home value$143,300−1%
Population28,284−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$47,226−4%
Home value$107,400−26%
Population10,782−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Butler County, Missouri?

Butler County, Missouri has about 42,020 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Butler County, Missouri earns about $49,089 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Butler County, Missouri expensive?

In Butler County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $145,100, and the typical rent is about $780 a month.

How educated are people in Butler County, Missouri?

About 15.8% of adults age 25 and over in Butler County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Butler County, Missouri?

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

Has Butler County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Butler County, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,255 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

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12 census tracts
Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9503.01Census Tract 9506Census Tract 9501.01Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9509Census Tract 9507Census Tract 9508Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9501.02
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 63901ZIP 63961ZIP 63940ZIP 63954ZIP 63945ZIP 63932ZIP 63962
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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