1st Advantage MortgageThe median Butler County household earns $81,610, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Butler County
- How much Butler County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Butler County
- Housing costs in Butler County
- How Butler County compares with nearby counties
- Towns and communities in Butler County
- What a median Butler County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Butler County
- People and households in Butler County
- A Butler County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Butler County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Butler County
With an estimated 68,287 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Butler County ranks 8th of 105 in Kansas for population. Land area is 1,430 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 48 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Wichita, KS metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 15 Census places inside Butler County, Andover leads by population with about 15,965; 13 of the 15 are incorporated.
How much Butler County households make
Half of Butler County households take in less than $81,610 a year and half take in more, 10% above the Kansas median of $74,275. In the state ranking that is 6th of 105.
| Income band | Share in Butler County | Difference from Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.1% | -3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | +2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.3% | -0.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Butler County households make $100,000 or more, and 18% make less than $35,000. Census counts 8.5% of Butler County residents in poverty, against 11.3% across Kansas. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.423 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Jobs and commutes in Butler County
The biggest employer of Butler County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by manufacturing (16%). Manufacturing stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Butler County averages 3.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.9%). Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.0% of the total (5.1% statewide).
| Top industries | Butler County share | +/- vs Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.6% | +2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.3% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.1% | -1.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | -0.3 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.
Housing costs in Butler County
A typical Butler County rental runs $956 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Kansas. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 41% of renter households here. Home values center on $217,600, or 2.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 78% of homes. The median year built is 1984.
| Cost | Butler County | Kansas figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $956/mo | $1,060/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $217,600 | $217,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 43% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 8% | 9% | 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 compares with nearby counties
Greenwood County is closest, 33 miles from center to center; the sixth, Elk County, is 39 miles off. Harvey County leads the group on income ($74,368), Chase County trails ($56,484), and Butler County out-earns 6 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | - | $81,610 | $956/mo | 78% |
| Greenwood County, KS | 33 mi | $60,042 | $715/mo | 80% |
| Sedgwick County, KS | 35 mi | $69,365 | $998/mo | 63% |
| Cowley County, KS | 37 mi | $57,878 | $809/mo | 68% |
| Harvey County, KS | 38 mi | $74,368 | $900/mo | 70% |
| Chase County, KS | 39 mi | $56,484 | $825/mo | 73% |
| Elk County, KS | 39 mi | $64,609 | $552/mo | 79% |
Towns and communities in Butler County
15 Census places fall mainly inside Butler County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 49,310 residents, leaving about 28% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Andover has the highest median household income on the list ($104,787) and Potwin the lowest ($40,391), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 15 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andover | city | 15,965 | $104,787 | $1,450 | 17 mi |
| El Dorado | city | 12,769 | $59,180 | $844 | 4 mi |
| Augusta | city | 9,216 | $64,919 | $865 | 9 mi |
| Rose Hill | city | 4,246 | $102,389 | $1,027 | 21 mi |
| Towanda | city | 1,668 | $64,327 | $1,034 | 9 mi |
| Douglass | city | 1,603 | $72,589 | $892 | 20 mi |
| Benton | city | 927 | $88,750 | $985 | 15 mi |
| Whitewater | city | 886 | $65,208 | $908 | 21 mi |
| Leon | city | 607 | $66,250 | $904 | 7 mi |
| Potwin | city | 513 | $40,391 | $890 | 15 mi |
| Elbing | city | 300 | $96,250 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Rosalia | CDP | 219 | $122,500 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Latham | city | 199 | n/a | $576 | 20 mi |
| Cassoday | city | 154 | $70,000 | n/a | 21 mi |
What a median Butler County budget can carry
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.
- Median income divided by twelve: $6,801 before taxes
- 14% goes to median rent ($956)
- Under a 40% cap, $2,720 total minus rent leaves $1,764
Two-income households and single earners in Butler County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Butler County
What the Butler County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Butler County borrower sees (free reports).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
People and households in Butler County
Degree holders: 32% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.0%, against 8.8% for Kansas.
| Residents | Butler County | Kansas | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 37.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.4% | 35.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | 8.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 11.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 11.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.9% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Butler County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 27.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.2% |
| 60+ min | 3.6% |
A Butler County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Butler County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Butler County resident can confirm its license with the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Kansas: Kansas personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Kansas guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Butler County household make?
About $81,610 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% above the Kansas median.
Is Butler County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $956 against $1,060 statewide, and 41% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Andover?
Yes, along with the other 14 Census places in Butler County, such as El Dorado, Augusta, Rose Hill.
Can Butler County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Kansas county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Where can someone in Butler County check a lender's license?
With the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commissioner. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.