1st Advantage MortgageIn Butler County, Ohio, the typical household earns $81,590 a year and the typical rent is $1,135. 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
- Butler County at a glance
- Jobs and commutes in Butler County
- Income in Butler County compared with Ohio
- What it costs to live in Butler County
- Regional comparison for Butler County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Butler County
- People and households in Butler County
- Borrowing situations common in Butler County
- Debt-to-income at Butler County's medians
- Licensing and complaints for Butler County
- Four steps for Butler County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Butler County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Butler County's population at 392,876; only 6 of Ohio's 88 county-level areas are larger. It covers 467 square miles of land, or about 842 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 18 places in the county (9 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Hamilton, with about 63,468 residents, or 16% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Butler County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 16%. The survey's unemployment rate for Butler County averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.8%). 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Only 4.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Butler County workers | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.4% | -1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.7% | -0.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +1.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.3% | +0.7 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.
Income in Butler County compared with Ohio
The median household income in Butler County is $81,590; statewide it is $71,389, so Butler County runs 14% above Ohio as a whole. Only 11 Ohio counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Butler County | vs Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -3.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.8% | -2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.8% | +4.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | +1.9 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. 11.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.3%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). 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.
What it costs to live in Butler County
A typical Butler County rental runs $1,135 a month including utilities, which is 10% above Ohio. By the Census definition, 48% of Butler County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $258,500, or 3.2 years of median income. 70% of Butler County households own their home and 30% rent. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Butler County | Ohio | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,135/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $258,500 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.3% | 3.4% | n/a |
Regional comparison for Butler County
Distances run center to center, from Hamilton County at 17 miles out to Franklin County at 27. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Butler County; Warren County is highest at $110,132 and Montgomery County lowest at $66,139. The list crosses into Indiana, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County | - | $81,590 | $1,135/mo | 70% |
| Hamilton County, OH | 17 mi | $72,470 | $1,075/mo | 59% |
| Preble County, OH | 21 mi | $69,223 | $794/mo | 80% |
| Warren County, OH | 21 mi | $110,132 | $1,361/mo | 79% |
| Union County, IN | 23 mi | $76,424 | $760/mo | 80% |
| Montgomery County, OH | 26 mi | $66,139 | $1,026/mo | 62% |
| Franklin County, IN | 27 mi | $78,074 | $870/mo | 82% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Butler County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 18 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 55% of Butler County residents live in one of the 18. Incomes vary by place: $167,625 at the median in Wetherington, $40,764 in Oxford. Median rent ranges from $978 in Ross to $1,896 in Four Bridges. No Butler County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 18.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | city | 63,468 | $55,166 | $1,007 | 3 mi |
| Middletown | city | 51,617 | $57,102 | $1,007 | 12 mi |
| Fairfield | city | 44,828 | $77,937 | $1,242 | 8 mi |
| Oxford | city | 21,753 | $40,764 | $997 | 11 mi |
| Trenton | city | 13,583 | $80,635 | $1,284 | 6 mi |
| Beckett Ridge | CDP | 9,496 | $116,425 | $1,707 | 9 mi |
| Four Bridges | CDP | 3,417 | $121,764 | $1,896 | 12 mi |
| Ross | CDP | 2,601 | $64,522 | $978 | 10 mi |
| New Miami | village | 2,223 | $43,281 | $1,074 | 1 mi |
| Wetherington | CDP | 1,138 | $167,625 | $1,473 | 11 mi |
| Williamsdale | CDP | 802 | $75,625 | $1,086 | 2 mi |
| Woodsdale | CDP | 735 | $71,806 | $1,332 | 4 mi |
| Darrtown | CDP | 643 | $56,518 | $1,029 | 7 mi |
| Millville | village | 603 | $75,625 | $1,095 | 6 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
People and households in Butler County
Degree holders: 33% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.2%, against 6.4% for Ohio.
| Indicator | Butler County | All of Ohio | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 32.8% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.8% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.8% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Butler County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Butler County
Based on the Butler County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Higher earners. 41% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Rent squeeze. 48% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Debt-to-income at Butler County's medians
Butler County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,799 a month: gross income for a household at the Butler County median
- Less median rent of $1,135, which is 17% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $2,720 total minus rent leaves $1,585
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Licensing and complaints for Butler County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Butler County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Ohio guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Butler County borrowers
A short checklist for Butler County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Ohio.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Butler County earn?
The median is $81,590; 41% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Butler County rent compare with Ohio?
$1,135 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 10% above.
Which towns does the Butler County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 18 Census places: Hamilton, Middletown, Fairfield, Oxford, Trenton.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Butler County or elsewhere in Ohio, the same rules apply.
Is there a Butler County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Ohio it is the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions.