The Town FilesButte, Alaska
Community in Matanuska-Susitna Borough · population 3,589 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $374,600
- Household income
- $101,042
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 70°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.2
Butte is a community of 3,589 people in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. The median home is worth $374,600, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). It ranks better for families than 91% of Alaska towns, more of a college town than 91% of Alaska towns, easier by car than 87% of Alaska towns.
How Butte ranks
Percentile among Alaska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alaska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Butte is worth $374,600, above the typical Alaska town ($289,500). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $101,042, which is more affordable than 38% of Alaska towns. Median rent is $1,610 a month. 82.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Butte | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $374,600 | $289,500 |
| Median rent | $1,610 | $1,146 |
| Median household income | $101,042 | $78,155 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.3× |
| Homeownership | 82.9% | 72.6% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1989 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Butte
| People | Butte | Typical Alaska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 37.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 11.9% |
| Veterans | 14.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 7.4% |
| Average commute | 34.0 min | 12.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 88.6% |
Weather in Butte
July highs average 70.0°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 15.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.5 inches of snow (typical Alaska town: 64.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Butte since 1950.
Severe weather in Matanuska-Susitna Borough since 1996
Matanuska-Susitna Borough has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4904: Severe Storm |
| March 14, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4646: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4533: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3446: Covid-19 |
| August 22, 2019 | Fire | FM-5290: Deshka Landing Fire |
Jobs and pay in Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Matanuska-Susitna Borough had 29,515 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,329 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Butte itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Butte
- Palmer, AK6.0 mi · 5,888 people · home $294,900
- Gateway, AK8.1 mi · 5,748 people · home $446,200
- Farm Loop, AK8.9 mi · 2,747 people · home $431,300
- South Lakes, AK11.4 mi · 5,229 people · home $377,500
- North Lakes, AK12.1 mi · 9,450 people · home $357,600
- Wasilla, AK15.9 mi · 9,054 people · home $358,400
- Fishhook, AK16.7 mi · 5,048 people · home $416,300
- Tanaina, AK16.8 mi · 8,817 people · home $328,500
Butte questions
Is Butte, Alaska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Butte scores better for retirees than 75% of Alaska towns and quieter than 33%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Butte?
The median owner-occupied home in Butte is valued at $374,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,042, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,610 a month.
What is the weather like in Butte?
July highs average 70.0°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 82.5 inches of snow.
Does Butte get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Butte in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)