Butler County, Iowa Income Statistics
Butler County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Butler County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Butler County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,635 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,370 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.8% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.9% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Butler County is about 2% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing faster in Butler County (4.2%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Butler County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Butler County, Iowa grew by 59.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,635 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Butler County
| Metric | Butler County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.485 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,899 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,497 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.1% | 21.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Butler County, it is 0.485, lower than Iowa's 0.510, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 32% more than women's income in Butler County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 32% wage gap accumulates to roughly $539,070 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Butler County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,048 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Butler County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.5% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 230 people are unemployed in Butler County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Butler County is 23 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Butler County, Iowa has fallen from 4.7% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.9% in 2019.
Butler County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Butler County, IA is typical in size for this group, 14,268 residents against a local median of 15,328, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Butler County, IA sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is income growth, 15% above the local median at 4.2%/yr against 3.7%/yr. Butler County, IA has the 3rd highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butler County, IA | 14,268 | $73,635 #3/6 | 4.2%/yr #3/6 | 3.1% #2/6 | 0.485 #3/6 |
| Floyd County, IA | 15,328 | $68,678 | 4.9%/yr | 3.3% | 0.480 |
| Grundy County, IA | 12,384 | $85,863 | 4.3%/yr | 2.0% | 0.481 |
| Franklin County, IA | 9,956 | $59,847 | 3.2%/yr | 3.8% | 0.509 |
| Bremer County, IA | 25,204 | $86,476 | 3.7%/yr | 3.3% | 0.501 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 130,985 | $66,338 | 3.5%/yr | 4.6% | 0.517 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Butler County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Iowa, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Butler County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Butler County, Iowa?
Butler County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $73,635, about 2% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Butler County, Iowa?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Butler County, Iowa rose 59%, from $46,186 to $73,635. Over the same years, income here outpaced Iowa as a whole: +59% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Butler County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Butler County, Iowa was $69,531, up 5% from $66,095 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Butler County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Butler County, Iowa was $56,877. By 2024 it had risen 29% to $73,635.
What is the Gini coefficient in Butler County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Butler County is 0.485. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Butler County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Butler County, Iowa has narrowed from about 28% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,048 since 2009.
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