1st Advantage MortgageThe median Butler County household earns $79,268, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Butler County offer.
On this page
- Butler County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Butler County
- Labor force snapshot: Butler County
- How much Butler County households make
- What stands out in Butler County
- How Butler County compares with nearby counties
- Census places in Butler County
- What the numbers mean for Butler County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Butler County
- Butler County demographics against Nebraska
- Steps before you apply in Butler County
- Nebraska rules that apply in Butler County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Butler County by the numbers
Roughly 8,424 residents live in Butler County, Nebraska, 32nd by population among the state's 93 counties and county equivalents. Butler County spans 585 square miles; with 8,424 people, that is 14.4 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Butler County is not part of any metropolitan area. David City (3,017 people) heads the county's list of 12 Census places, 12 incorporated and 0 census-designated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Butler County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Renting and owning in Butler County
Renters in Butler County pay a median of $776 a month, 28% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. By the Census definition, 32% of Butler County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,200, about 2.3 times the median household income. In Butler County, 80% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1968.
| Measure | Butler County | Nebraska | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 80% | 67% | +13.3 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 45% | -12.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 13% | 22% | -9.4 pts |
| Vacant units | 13% | 8% | +5.2 pts |
| Mobile homes | 7.9% | 2.9% | +5.0 pts |
| Median gross rent | $776/mo | $1,072/mo | 28% lower |
| Median home value | $184,200 | $238,600 | 23% lower |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Labor force snapshot: Butler County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Butler County residents work in education and health care and 16% in manufacturing. Butler County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 11% versus 4% in Nebraska. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 79% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Butler County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.3% | +5.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.8% | +6.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -1.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.8% | -2.7 pts |
Seasonal work is common in many Butler County industries; if that is you, show a full year of income rather than one strong month.
How much Butler County households make
The median household income in Butler County is $79,268; statewide it is $76,475, so Butler County runs 4% above Nebraska as a whole. That places it 12th among Nebraska's 93 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Butler County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.3% | +0.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.8% | +3.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -2.2 pts |
21% under $35,000 and 39% at $100,000 or more: that is the Butler County income split. Poverty rate, Butler County: 9.7%; Nebraska: 10.6%. Butler County scores 0.482 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. A household earning below the $79,268 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What stands out in Butler County
Where Butler County lands at the extremes of Nebraska's county rankings:
- On the share of households earning $100,000 or more, Butler County sits near the top of Nebraska at 39%, 10th highest of 93. High earners still overpay when they skip comparing offers.
- Median household income: $79,268 in Butler County. Only 11 of 93 Nebraska counties are higher. Higher local incomes do not change lender rules; your documented income is what counts.
- On the uninsured rate, Butler County sits near the bottom of Nebraska at 5.1%, 18th lowest of 93. Even insured households face deductibles; ask the provider about a payment plan.
How Butler County compares with nearby counties
Polk County is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, York County, is 34 miles off. Butler County's $79,268 median trails 3 of the six and beats 3; the range runs $69,768 (Polk County) to $94,066 (Saunders County).
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | - | $79,268 | $776/mo | 80% |
| Polk County, NE | 23 mi | $69,768 | $681/mo | 79% |
| Colfax County, NE | 24 mi | $82,530 | $980/mo | 76% |
| Seward County, NE | 24 mi | $82,444 | $980/mo | 72% |
| Saunders County, NE | 25 mi | $94,066 | $960/mo | 82% |
| Platte County, NE | 31 mi | $71,552 | $897/mo | 72% |
| York County, NE | 34 mi | $77,757 | $877/mo | 76% |
Census places in Butler County
Places, by size: the top 12 of 12. Roughly 41% of Butler County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. From David City to the smallest crossroads, Butler County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David City | city | 3,017 | $65,573 | $767 | 2 mi |
| Bellwood | village | 492 | $72,639 | $786 | 10 mi |
| Brainard | village | 303 | $68,750 | $756 | 7 mi |
| Rising City | village | 256 | $90,139 | $580 | 9 mi |
| Dwight | village | 230 | $71,042 | $440 | 12 mi |
| Ulysses | village | 190 | $76,458 | $675 | 11 mi |
| Octavia | village | 153 | $59,375 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Bruno | village | 104 | $37,212 | $725 | 10 mi |
| Linwood | village | 80 | $32,500 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Garrison | village | 61 | $65,000 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Abie | village | 59 | $55,938 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Surprise | village | 35 | $112,083 | n/a | 12 mi |
What the numbers mean for Butler County borrowers
Where the Butler County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Consolidating cards in Butler County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Butler County borrower sees (free reports).
Room for a loan payment in Butler County
Here is the Butler County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $6,606 a month: gross income for a household at the Butler County median
- Less median rent of $776, which is 12% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,840 total minus rent leaves $2,064
Homeowners in Butler County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Butler County demographics against Nebraska
In Butler County, 24% of adults have at least a four-year degree (35% in Nebraska). About 5% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Butler County | Gap to Nebraska | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | +5.6 yrs | +1.3 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | -10.6 pts | +1.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.6% | +0.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | -2.1 pts | -2.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.0% | -1.4 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Work from home | 8.7% | -2.3 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.7% | -0.9 pts | -3.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.2% | -1.8 pts | -3.2 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Steps before you apply in Butler County
Steps that save money for Butler County residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Nebraska license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nebraska rules that apply in Butler County
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance is the place to verify any lender's Nebraska license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Nebraska guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Butler County a high-income county?
Its $79,268 median ranks 12th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Butler County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $776 a month; 32% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Can Butler County owners borrow against a $184,200 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near David City. Which guide is mine?
This one. David City and the rest of Butler County have no separate city guide.
Are Butler County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.