The Town FilesButler, Indiana
City in DeKalb County · population 2,635 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $107,700
- Household income
- $54,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 39.0
Butler is a city of 2,635 people in DeKalb County, Indiana. The median home is worth $107,700, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Indiana towns, more of a college town than 74% of Indiana towns.
How Butler ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Butler is worth $107,700, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $54,688, which is more affordable than 78% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $785 a month. 74.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Butler | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $107,700 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $785 | $888 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.4% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Butler
| People | Butler | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Butler
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.9 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 6, 1961 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 1, 2019.
Severe weather in DeKalb County since 1996
DeKalb County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| April 22, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1832: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 30, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in DeKalb County
DeKalb County had 22,201 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,916 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Butler itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Butler
2 public schools with 925 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastside Junior-Senior High School | 7-12 | 564 | 13.1 |
| Butler Elementary School | K-6 | 361 | 14.4 |
Towns near Butler
- Auburn, IN10.4 mi · 13,412 people · home $190,800
- Hicksville, OH10.7 mi · 3,431 people · home $157,600
- Garrett, IN14.0 mi · 6,542 people · home $154,200
- Leo-Cedarville, IN16.2 mi · 3,624 people · home $370,100
- Angola, IN16.4 mi · 9,340 people · home $205,400
- Bryan, OH17.1 mi · 8,729 people · home $144,400
- Montpelier, OH18.1 mi · 3,942 people · home $106,900
- Kendallville, IN20.0 mi · 10,271 people · home $133,200
Butler questions
Is Butler, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Butler scores better for retirees than 30% of Indiana towns and quieter than 40%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Butler?
The median owner-occupied home in Butler is valued at $107,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,688, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $785 a month.
What is the weather like in Butler?
July highs average 85.1°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.9 inches of snow.
Does Butler get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 6, 1961. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)