The Town FilesButler, Missouri
City in Bates County · population 4,220 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,400
- Household income
- $42,151
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 36.3
Butler is a city of 4,220 people in Bates County, Missouri. The median home is worth $145,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks hipper than 89% of Missouri towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Missouri towns, easier by car than 86% of Missouri towns.
How Butler ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Butler is worth $145,400, below the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $42,151, which is more affordable than 21% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $893 a month. 59.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Butler | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,400 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $893 | $855 |
| Median household income | $42,151 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 59.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Butler
| People | Butler | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.0% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 29.7 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.3% | 88.7% |
Weather in Butler
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 43.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.5 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 47 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 12, 2006 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 27, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Bates County since 1996
Bates County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Bates County
Bates County had 3,673 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,876 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Butler itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Butler
5 public schools with 1,153 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUTLER HIGH | 6-12 | 492 | 12.0 |
| BUTLER ELEM. | K-5 | 437 | 12.9 |
| BUTLER EARLY CHILDHOOD | PK-PK | 106 | 26.5 |
| BALLARD ELEM. | PK-6 | 62 | 6.9 |
| BALLARD HIGH | 7-12 | 56 | 7.0 |
Towns near Butler
- Harrisonville, MO27.0 mi · 10,121 people · home $209,200
- Nevada, MO28.6 mi · 8,212 people · home $122,700
Butler questions
Is Butler, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Butler scores better for retirees than 26% of Missouri towns and quieter than 32%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Butler?
The median owner-occupied home in Butler is valued at $145,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,151, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $893 a month.
What is the weather like in Butler?
July highs average 89.5°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.6 inches of precipitation a year and 9.5 inches of snow.
Does Butler get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 12, 2006. The typical Missouri 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)