The Town FilesButler, Alabama
Town in Choctaw County · population 1,871 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,300
- Household income
- $47,350
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 38.3
Butler is a town of 1,871 people in Choctaw County, Alabama. The median home is worth $145,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 86% of Alabama towns.
How Butler ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Butler is worth $145,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $47,350, which is more affordable than 39% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 67.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Butler | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $744 | $834 |
| Median household income | $47,350 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.7% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.5% | — |
Who lives in Butler
| People | Butler | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.5% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Butler
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 35.5°F. About 61.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 78 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 46 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 30, 2022 about 9.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 15, 2011.
Severe weather in Choctaw County since 1996
Choctaw County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 10, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4573: Hurricane Zeta |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Choctaw County
Choctaw County had 3,299 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,814 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Butler itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Butler
2 public schools with 525 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw County Elementary | PK-6 | 304 | 17.9 |
| Choctaw County High School | 7-12 | 221 | 20.1 |
Towns near Butler
- Gilbertown, AL16.9 mi · 739 people · home $160,400
- Linden, AL28.3 mi · 1,930 people · home $92,400
- York, AL28.3 mi · 2,414 people · home $80,100
- Toomsuba, MS28.8 mi · 778 people · home $224,600
Butler questions
Is Butler, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Butler scores better for retirees than 63% of Alabama towns and quieter than 51%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Butler?
The median owner-occupied home in Butler is valued at $145,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,350, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Butler?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 35.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Butler get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 30, 2022. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- 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)