Butterfield, Minnesota Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Butterfield, Minnesota had a total population of 535, the 485th largest city in Minnesota, with a median household income of $64,083, which is 28% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
- Unemployment rate of 14.9% is notably above the national average.
Butterfield Quick Facts
How Butterfield Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 486 | 535 | +10.1% |
| Median household income | $57,292 | $64,083 | +11.9% |
| Median home value | $77,800 | $90,400 | +16.2% |
How Butterfield Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Butterfield Rankings in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota Rankings
Other Cities in Watonwan County
Cities Similar to Butterfield
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | 550 | $64,028 | $133,000 | 11.8% | 24.9% |
| Pillager | 547 | $67,679 | $180,300 | 22.6% | 10.2% |
| Kasota | 554 | $66,625 | $190,800 | 13.4% | 21.6% |
| Cosmos | 536 | $56,635 | $105,500 | 10.0% | 15.3% |
| Halstad | 509 | $66,250 | $128,600 | 22.4% | 4.2% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 535, Butterfield's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Butterfield is a small community located in Minnesota, within Watonwan County. The total population is 535. It ranks as the 485th most populous out of 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota.
Age Demographics
The median age in Butterfield is 45.0 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 38.8 years. 13.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Butterfield is $64,083. This is 28% lower than the state median of $89,062. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 10% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.3%. The unemployment rate is 14.9%. This is 267% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $90,400. Housing costs are 73% lower than the state median of $329,300. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Butterfield is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 72.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Butterfield is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 36.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (36.8% vs 6.4%). The Asian population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.1%.
Education
10.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 74% lower than the state rate of 39.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 70.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Butterfield, Minnesota is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Minnesota state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 914 Census-designated places in Minnesota. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Butterfield, Minnesota?
Butterfield, Minnesota has a population of 535 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Butterfield, MN?
The median household income in Butterfield is $64,083, which is 21% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Butterfield, MN?
The poverty rate in Butterfield is 8.4%. This means approximately 45 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Butterfield, Minnesota?
Butterfield's population is 59.8% White, 0.0% Black, 36.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.7% Asian.
What is the median home value in Butterfield, MN?
The median home value in Butterfield is $90,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Butterfield, Minnesota?
10.1% of adults (25+) in Butterfield hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 1.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.