Population 207,929 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Butte County
Household size in Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.61 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.65 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Butte County has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has dropped from 2.61 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the south and smallest in the west.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.8 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.6 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.2 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Butte County is a little younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 38.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 37.1, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the west, the oldest in the east.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Butte County as they are nationally: 12.2%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
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 Butte County
Renters in Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.0% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.7% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Butte County than nationally: 42.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Among homeowners, 41.9% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the north. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Butte County than nationally: 11.5%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1977 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1979 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Butte County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1979, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the southeast.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $912 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $962 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,154 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,463 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$550 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Butte County costs $1,463 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $550 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 34.8% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the northwest.
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 Butte County
Bachelor's degrees in Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.3% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.1% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Butte County than nationally: 32.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.0 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the south.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.3% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Butte County have finished high school as nationally: 90.3%, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.5 points, mirroring the country.
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 Butte County
| Period | Butte County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Butte County: 8.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Butte 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte County | 2.51 | 38.2 | 12.2% | 42.7% | 11.5% | 1979 | $1,463 | 32.1% | 90.3% | 8.1% |
| Glenn County | 2.94 | 37.6 | 14.5% | 38.8% | 12.3% | 1975 | $1,247 | 14.8% | 77.8% | 7.7% |
| Sierra County | 2.24 | 55.9 | 0.7% | 27.9% | 43.7% | 1970 | $1,865 | 25.1% | 93.4% | 13.4% |
| Washoe County | 2.55 | 40.0 | 11.2% | 40.1% | 8.7% | 1991 | $1,933 | 34.1% | 88.9% | 5.0% |
| Juab County | 3.27 | 31.9 | 9.4% | 16.2% | 6.0% | 1981 | $862 | 19.4% | 94.2% | 2.4% |
| Carbon County | 2.48 | 39.2 | 8.4% | 32.1% | 15.3% | 1966 | $884 | 19.1% | 92.5% | 6.5% |
| Garfield County | 2.66 | 38.2 | 9.0% | 30.4% | 7.2% | 1991 | $1,712 | 32.0% | 88.8% | 3.5% |
| Eagle County | 2.64 | 39.7 | 9.0% | 34.1% | 20.4% | 1995 | $2,051 | 50.5% | 94.9% | 4.2% |
| Summit County | 2.59 | 41.7 | 6.9% | 27.9% | 48.3% | 1989 | $2,266 | 54.7% | 96.0% | 4.2% |
| Clear Creek County | 1.99 | 49.2 | 5.2% | 18.4% | 15.1% | 1970 | $1,601 | 57.7% | 93.3% | 5.0% |
| Jefferson County | 2.43 | 41.3 | 7.8% | 29.3% | 5.8% | 1982 | $2,135 | 52.4% | 95.8% | 3.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hawaii County, HI · Marin County, CA · Mahoning County, OH · Lubbock County, TX · Lexington County, SC · Lake County, OH · Kitsap County, WA · Jefferson County, MO · Jackson County, OR · Ingham County, MI
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 Butte 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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