United States › Missouri › Butler County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Butler County Missouri · 42,130 residents · 695 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Butler County is home to 42,130 people in Missouri. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The typical home is worth $116,400, having more than doubled since 2000. The foreign-born share is 1%. 21.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That trails the Missouri median by roughly 26%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.5
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
38K 40K 41K 42K 43K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Butler County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,227
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,228 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,721 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 16.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 18.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.9%
Public administration 3.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food 1%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$116,400
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$662
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $354 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 68.9% in 2000
36.0% rent
from 2.38 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.6%(37,435)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 84.8%(35,745)
Hispanic / Latino 2.1%(901)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 70.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 10.5% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 57.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 14.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 33.5%(5,452)
Women 15+
Never married 26.7%(4,704)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 13.2%(421)
Gulf War (1990s) 18.1%(578)
Share of the 3,200 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Butler County Head to head
Compare Butler County to nearby counties BUTLER COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income $51,481 +22%
Home value $94,600 −19%
Population 14,052 −66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Ripley County
Income $42,037 same
Home value $119,600 +3%
Population 10,717 −74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Stoddard County
Income $57,957 +37%
Home value $143,300 +23%
Population 28,284 −33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BUTLER COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income $47,226 +12%
Home value $107,400 −8%
Population 10,782 −74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Butler County, Missouri? Butler County, Missouri has about 42,130 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Butler County, Missouri? The typical household in Butler County, Missouri earns about $42,227 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 $116,400, and the typical rent is about $662 a month.
How educated are people in Butler County, Missouri? About 13.0% 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 21.9% 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 3,365 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.
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