1st Advantage MortgageThe median Butler County household earns $73,715, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Butler County by the numbers
- Household income in Butler County
- Housing costs in Butler County
- How Butler County residents earn a living
- Places inside Butler County
- Counties near Butler County
- More Butler County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Butler County
- Room for a loan payment in Butler County
- Checking a lender's license in Iowa
- Four steps for Butler County borrowers
- More guides for Butler County
- Frequently asked questions
Butler County by the numbers
With an estimated 14,268 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Butler County ranks 55th of 99 in Iowa for population. It covers 580 square miles of land, or about 25 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Butler County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 9 places in the county (9 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Parkersburg, with about 1,766 residents, or 12% of the county.
Household income in Butler County
At $73,715, the typical Butler County household income is 12% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Butler County | +/- vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.8% | -2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.8% | +5.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.4% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -2.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Butler County households make $100,000 or more, and 19% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 9.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.1%. For a borrower in Butler County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Butler County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $812 in Butler County versus $972 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,400, about 2.2 times the median household income. Owners occupy 84% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1958.
| Home costs | Butler County | Iowa | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $812/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,400 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 84% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 18% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Butler County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How Butler County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 28% of employed Butler County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward education and health care (28% against 24%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Butler County | Gap to Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.3% | +4.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.5% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -2.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.3% | +3.5 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.5% | -2.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Butler County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Butler County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Butler County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 8,371 residents, leaving about 41% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $58,214 in Dumont to $84,375 in New Hartford. Rent is cheapest in Dumont ($525) and steepest in Shell Rock ($931). No Butler County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg | city | 1,766 | $75,885 | $643 | 11 mi |
| Shell Rock | city | 1,625 | $78,657 | $931 | 10 mi |
| Clarksville | city | 1,237 | $62,917 | $728 | 6 mi |
| Aplington | city | 1,111 | $74,773 | $603 | 12 mi |
| Allison | city | 929 | $64,063 | $740 | 1 mi |
| Dumont | city | 783 | $58,214 | $525 | 10 mi |
| New Hartford | city | 675 | $84,375 | $875 | 14 mi |
| Bristow | city | 197 | $107,542 | $358 | 7 mi |
| Aredale | city | 48 | $27,500 | $575 | 13 mi |
Counties near Butler County
Distances run center to center, from Floyd County at 22 miles out to Chickasaw County at 32. Income ranges from $59,894 in Franklin County to $87,205 in Grundy County; 3 of these neighbors top Butler County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | - | $73,715 | $812/mo | 84% |
| Floyd County, IA | 22 mi | $68,557 | $745/mo | 77% |
| Grundy County, IA | 23 mi | $87,205 | $774/mo | 84% |
| Bremer County, IA | 23 mi | $86,784 | $921/mo | 80% |
| Franklin County, IA | 25 mi | $59,894 | $696/mo | 72% |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 30 mi | $66,417 | $989/mo | 66% |
| Chickasaw County, IA | 32 mi | $75,675 | $738/mo | 81% |
More Butler County figures
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. 3.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Butler County | Iowa | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.4% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.1% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.2% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Butler County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 4.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Butler County
Based on the Butler County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Butler County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Butler County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $6,143 gross per month ($73,715 / 12)
- 13% goes to median rent ($812)
- $1,399: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $2,641 total minus rent leaves $1,829
If your rent is above $812, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Iowa
Consumer lenders serving Butler County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Iowa that is the Iowa Division of Banking. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Iowa guide.
Four steps for Butler County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Iowa.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Butler County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Butler County a high-income county?
Its $73,715 median ranks 32nd of 99 Iowa counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Butler County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $812 against $972 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Butler County?
By population: Parkersburg, Shell Rock, Clarksville, Aplington, Allison. The county has 9 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Butler County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Butler County residents?
The Iowa Division of Banking licenses consumer lenders in Iowa; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.