Skip to main content

Butler County, Kentucky Demographics 2026

Butler County, Kentucky has a population of 12,393, the 89th most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $56,092 and the median home value is $111,100. The poverty rate is 20.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Butler County Quick Facts

Population 12,393
Median Household Income $56,092
Median Home Value $111,100
Poverty Rate 20.5%
Unemployment Rate 4.4%
Median Age 41.5 years
Homeownership Rate 73.7%
Affordability Ratio 2.0x
Bachelor's Degree+ 9.9%
High School Graduation 81.1%
Cities/Places 3
Population 12,393 89th of 120
Median Income $56,092 12% lower than state
Poverty Rate 20.5%
Unemployment 4.4%

How Butler County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population12,37312,393+0.2%
Median household income$52,003$56,092+7.9%
Median home value$105,500$111,100+5.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 24.5%
$25K-$50K 19.9%
$50K-$100K 35.5%
$100K+ 20.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.2%
$10K-$15K
7.6%
$15K-$20K
4.5%
$20K-$25K
6.1%
$25K-$30K
4.1%
$30K-$35K
3.9%
$35K-$40K
2.8%
$40K-$45K
5.2%
$45K-$50K
3.9%
$50K-$60K
10.4%
$60K-$75K
6.9%
$75K-$100K
18.2%
$100K-$125K
8.3%
$125K-$150K
5.1%
$150K-$200K
2.9%
$200K+
3.8%

Employment

4.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.9%|National: 5.2%
52.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 73.7%
Renter 26.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $679/mo 14.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

15out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 33 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Butler County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Morgantown2,479$37,60437.3%$114,000
Rochester155$78,54213.6%$167,500
Woodbury84$70,3572.4%N/A

Population Overview

Butler County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 12,393. It is the 89th most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Butler County is 41.5 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Butler County is $56,092. This is 12% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $111,100. Housing costs are 46% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Butler County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 73.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 68.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Butler County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.3%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.

Education

9.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 64% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 81.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Butler County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kentucky and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Butler County, Kentucky?

Butler County has a population of 12,393, making it the 89th most populous county in Kentucky.

What is the median income in Butler County?

The median household income in Butler County is $56,092 with a poverty rate of 20.5%.

How many cities are in Butler County, Kentucky?

Butler County contains 3 Census-designated places.