Population 14,268 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Butler County
Household size in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Butler County has 2.41 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across Iowa. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.5 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.0 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.3 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.2 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Butler County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.2, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 43.5, a smaller shift than nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Butler County: 7.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Butler County has a lower share of single-parent households than most Iowa counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Butler County
Renters in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.8% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.1% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 15.9% of households in Butler County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 41.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only two of Iowa's 99 counties have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.0% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Butler County is close to the national rate: 10.9% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Iowa as a whole (8.8%). Vacancy has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1951 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1953 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1950 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Butler County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1957, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1951 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the south, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $529 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $583 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $634 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $743 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$215 | +$351 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Butler County costs $743 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $215 a month since 2006–10, up 41%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 24.8% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Butler County
Bachelor's degrees in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.6% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.5% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Butler County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 21.5%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.2% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.5% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.5% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.0% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Butler County is above the national rate: 94.0% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Iowa. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.8 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Butler County
| Period | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Butler County has been strong: just 3.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Butler County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Bremer County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 8.2% | 1967 | $920 | 37.3% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| Fayette County | 2.22 | 43.0 | 8.7% | 23.5% | 10.5% | 1951 | $860 | 20.7% | 92.8% | 3.8% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Clayton County | 2.26 | 47.4 | 8.1% | 22.0% | 14.3% | 1957 | $820 | 14.3% | 92.5% | 2.6% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Grant County | 2.42 | 38.6 | 7.4% | 30.2% | 10.1% | 1973 | $836 | 27.9% | 93.7% | 3.1% |
| Buena Vista County | 2.67 | 36.9 | 10.7% | 26.8% | 8.7% | 1964 | $926 | 21.7% | 80.6% | 5.3% |
| Lafayette County | 2.52 | 40.8 | 8.6% | 19.8% | 6.2% | 1965 | $904 | 22.6% | 91.0% | 3.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Vernon County, MO · Camden County, NC · Chester County, TN · Conecuh County, AL · Camp County, TX · Benton County, IN · Uinta County, WY · Candler County, GA · Union County, TN · Union Parish, LA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Butler County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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