1st Advantage MortgageButler County (42,020 residents) has a $49,089 median household income and $780 median rent, by the latest Census five-year survey. Borrow only what the expense needs, pick the shortest affordable term, and walk away from any lender asking a Butler County applicant for an upfront fee.
On this page
- Butler County in brief
- Butler County income bands
- Butler County industries and commutes
- Butler County against other Missouri counties
- Butler County housing compared with Missouri
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Butler County
- Butler County and the counties next door
- Local borrowing considerations for Butler County
- More Butler County figures
- Budget math at the Butler County median
- Missouri lender licensing
- A Butler County borrower's checklist
- Other Missouri guides
- Frequently asked questions
Butler County in brief
Butler County is home to about 42,020 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. Packed into 695 square miles, that is close to 60 residents for every square mile of land. Metro status: none; Butler County sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (4 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Poplar Bluff, with about 16,254 residents, or 39% of the county.
Butler County income bands
At $49,089, the typical Butler County household income is 25% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 101st among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Band | Butler County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.1% | +13.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.4% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.8% | -9.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -5.0 pts |
Six-figure households (19%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (37%) in Butler County. Poverty rate, Butler County: 20.5%; Missouri: 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.461 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Butler County industries and commutes
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Butler County residents work in education and health care and 16% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in retail trade, at 16% locally and 11% for Missouri. Unemployment in Butler County, ACS five-year: 4.8%; Missouri: 4.0%. Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 8.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Butler County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 16.4% | +5.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.1% | +0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Butler County against other Missouri counties
Where Butler County lands at the extremes of Missouri's county rankings:
- On the poverty rate, Butler County sits near the top of Missouri at 20.5%, 11th highest of 115. Nonprofit credit counseling is free or low cost and worth a call first.
- Butler County ranks 11th highest of 115 Missouri counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 50%, against 46% statewide. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- Few Missouri counties match Butler County on households without a vehicle: 8.3% here, 6.6% for the state, ranking 13th highest of 115. Car-free households may need loans less for repairs but more for moves.
Butler County housing compared with Missouri
A typical Butler County rental runs $780 a month including utilities, which is 24% below Missouri. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Home values center on $145,100, or 3.0 years of median income. 65% of Butler County households own their home and 35% rent. The median year built is 1981. Against the median U.S. county, Butler County rent is 11% below.
| Home costs | Butler County | Missouri | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burdened owners | 33% | 22% | +10.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 11.6% | 5.2% | +6.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | +4.7 pts |
| Median home value | $145,100 | $230,300 | 37% lower |
| Owners | 65% | 68% | -3.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $780/mo | $1,033/mo | 24% lower |
With rent burdens at 50%, keep any Butler County loan to the smallest amount that solves the problem.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Butler County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Butler County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 18,164 residents, leaving about 57% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Fisk ($58,125) and Qulin ($23,365) mark the top and bottom of Butler County's income range among larger places. From Poplar Bluff to the smallest crossroads, Butler County residents share this guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff | city | 16,254 | $41,941 | $760 | 3 mi |
| Qulin | city | 570 | $23,365 | $624 | 12 mi |
| Fisk | city | 502 | $58,125 | $513 | 12 mi |
| Fairdealing | CDP | 415 | $49,293 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Neelyville | city | 358 | $35,865 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Broseley | CDP | 65 | $48,173 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Harviell | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 6 mi |
Butler County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Butler County's, from 24 to 42 miles away. Income ranges from $42,037 in Ripley County to $57,957 in Stoddard County; 4 of these neighbors top Butler County's median. Some neighbors are in Arkansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Butler County resident follows Missouri rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | - | $49,089 | $780/mo | 65% |
| Clay County, AR | 24 mi | $51,481 | $707/mo | 75% |
| Ripley County, MO | 27 mi | $42,037 | $654/mo | 79% |
| Stoddard County, MO | 27 mi | $57,957 | $760/mo | 72% |
| Wayne County, MO | 27 mi | $47,226 | $665/mo | 75% |
| Carter County, MO | 34 mi | $50,000 | $656/mo | 61% |
| Greene County, AR | 42 mi | $57,839 | $904/mo | 66% |
Local borrowing considerations for Butler County
Butler County-specific points to check:
- 13% uninsured. In Butler County, ask for an itemized bill and a payment plan first (medical bills).
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Butler County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
More Butler County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. Uninsured, Butler County: 13.0%; Missouri: 8.8%.
| Measure | Butler County | Gap to Missouri | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.8% | -16.6 pts | -6.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 20.5% | +7.9 pts | +7.3 pts |
| Work from home | 5.4% | -7.6 pts | -3.3 pts |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | +7.0 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.0% | +4.3 pts | +5.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.3% | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | +0.8 pts | +0.4 pts |
| Median age | 39.5 | +0.5 yrs | -2.0 yrs |
| Minutes to work | Butler County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.9% |
| 60+ min | 7.3% |
Budget math at the Butler County median
Here is the Butler County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $49,089 a year is $4,091 of gross monthly income
- Rent at the median, $780, takes 19% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $856 a month
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Butler County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Missouri lender licensing
Consumer lenders serving Butler County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Nationally, Butler County residents can file with the CFPB. See the Missouri state guide for the statewide picture.
A Butler County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Butler County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Other Missouri guides
Next step up from Butler County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Butler County earn?
The median is $49,089; 19% earn $100,000 or more and 37% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Butler County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $780 against $1,033 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Butler County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Poplar Bluff, Qulin, Fisk, Fairdealing, Neelyville and 2 more.
Does living in Butler County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Butler County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Butler County?
Start with the Missouri Division of Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.