Butler County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Butler County, Missouri had an estimated 41,814 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.7 percent since the 2020 census base of 42,128, across 695 square miles. County output reached $2.00 bn in 2024, 1,030 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 27 7(a) approvals worth $18.7 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Butler County
How many people live in Butler County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202442,020
- Households16,594
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$49,089
- Median age39.5
- Median gross rent$780 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$145,100
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher15.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,761
- Population under 189,780
- Share under 1823.3 percent
- Population 65 and over8,184
- Share 65 and over19.5 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6424,056
- Civilian labor force18,253
- Unemployment rate4.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over56.6 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties27th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1168th of 3,222
Butler County is the 27th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.3 percent against 19.5 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Butler County
Is Butler County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202441,814
- Census 2020 base population42,128
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.75 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-96
- Births, 2024472
- Deaths, 2024660
- Natural change, 2024-188
- Net domestic migration, 202463
- Net international migration, 202427
- Total net migration, 202490
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024427
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2106th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.75 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Butler County
Where are people moving to Butler County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving970
- People arriving, from those returns1,781
- Tax returns filed by households leaving934
- Net household movement36
- Adjusted gross income arriving$37.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-5.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$38,169
- Average income of a leaving household$45,357
- Largest single originRipley County (100 households)
- Largest single destinationRipley County (94 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ripley County | 100 | 180 | $3.9 m |
| Stoddard County | 85 | 146 | $2.7 m |
| Wayne County | 81 | 161 | $3.0 m |
| Carter County | 49 | 101 | $1.8 m |
| Dunklin County | 49 | 93 | $1.6 m |
| Scott County | 26 | 45 | $646,000 |
| Clay County | 22 | 53 | $751,000 |
| Cape Girardeau County | 20 | 39 | $897,000 |
Households arriving report $7,188 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Ripley County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Butler County
What is the Butler County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.00 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.96 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.3 percent
- GDP change over five years28.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes29th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1279th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$47,683
Output grew 2.3 percent in the latest year and 28.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Butler County
Employment by industry in Butler County
- Covered employment, annual average18,133
- Establishments reporting1,544
- Average annual pay$46,285
- Average weekly wage$890
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,058
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$47,638
- Retail trade, employment2,832
- Retail trade, average annual pay$33,542
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,902
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,883
- Manufacturing, employment1,842
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$50,432
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment599
- Finance and insurance, employment585
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,058 | 599 | $47,638 |
| Retail trade | 2,832 | 179 | $33,542 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,902 | 111 | $21,883 |
| Manufacturing | 1,842 | 46 | $50,432 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 599 | 44 | $20,892 |
| Finance and insurance | 585 | 61 | $63,629 |
| Construction | 506 | 80 | $58,292 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 488 | 58 | $77,333 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,058 jobs, 22.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Butler County
How many businesses are in Butler County?
- Establishments, all industries1,030
- Employment at those establishments15,429
- Annual payroll$718.2 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Butler County
Building permits in Butler County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202463
- Declared construction value permitted$2.2 m
- Single family units authorized7
- Multifamily units authorized56
- Multifamily share of units88.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$35,635
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.8
Multifamily is 88.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Butler County
SBA loans in Butler County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded27
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$18.7 m
- Average 7(a) approval$692,456
- Median 7(a) approval$360,000
- 10th percentile approval$103,980
- 90th percentile approval$1,943,040
- Largest single approval$3,490,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)529
- Jobs per approval19.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active14
- Distinct industries receiving approvals22
- Median 7(a) term123 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter13
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals18.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (3)
- Most active lenderThe Bank of Missouri (6)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$3.4 m
- Average 504 approval$1,144,667
- Median 504 approval$1,157,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval2.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved1.7
- Most active CDCRural Missouri, Inc. (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$22.1 m
The average approval of $692,456 sits well above the median of $360,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 22.2 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Butler County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Butler County
Do SBA loans in Butler County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure19
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled3
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Butler County
SBA lending by place in Butler County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending2
- Poplar Bluff, approvals26
- Neelyville, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff | 26 | $18,576,300 |
| Neelyville | 1 | $120,000 |
Poplar Bluff accounts for 26 approvals against 1 in Neelyville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Butler County
How large is Butler County?
- Land area695 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties29th of 115
- Width, east to west29.9 mi
- Height, north to south29.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land60
- Establishments per square mile1.48
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Butler County
Flood risk in Butler County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Butler County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290044
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Butler County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Butler County (community 290044), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Butler County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Butler County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Butler County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202442,020
- Households16,594
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$49,089
- Median age39.5
Common questions
Butler County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Butler County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 41,814 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 42,020, in 16,594 households, ranking 27th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Butler County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.75 percent since the 2020 census base of 42,128, to 41,814 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 472 births against 660 deaths, with net migration of 90. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Butler County?
$49,089. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $145,100, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $780 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Butler County?
1,030 establishments, employing 15,429 people with an annual payroll of $718.2 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Butler County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,058 jobs, 22.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 18,133 jobs at an average annual pay of $46,285, or $890 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Butler County?
27 7(a) approvals totaling $18.7 m since FY2020, across 14 lenders, with a median approval of $360,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $3.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Butler County?
63 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $2.2 m. Multifamily was 88.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Butler County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Butler County come from?
The largest single origin is Ripley County, with 100 households. Arriving households report an average income of $38,169 against $45,357 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Butler County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Butler County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Butler County
Cities and places in Butler.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Butler County. 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poplar Bluff | city | 16,254 | 26 | Wholly in this county |
| Qulin | city | 570 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fisk | city | 502 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fairdealing | CDP | 415 | None recorded | 26.2 percent here, 73.8 percent Ripley County |
| Neelyville | city | 358 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Broseley | CDP | 65 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Harviell | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby