The Town FilesButler, Kentucky
City in Pendleton County · population 646 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $158,200
- Household income
- $45,341
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 49.6
Butler is a city of 646 people in Pendleton County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $158,200, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Kentucky towns, easier by car than 91% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 75% of Kentucky towns.
How Butler ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Butler is worth $158,200, close to the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $45,341, which is more affordable than 27% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Butler | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $158,200 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $794 | $837 |
| Median household income | $45,341 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Butler
| People | Butler | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.1% | 88.6% |
Weather in Butler
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 23.3°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Butler since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on March 2, 2012 about 5.0 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 380 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 23, 1968.
Severe weather in Pendleton County since 1996
Pendleton County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4497: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Pendleton County
Pendleton County had 2,239 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,453 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Butler itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Butler
2 public schools with 913 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Elementary School | PK-5 | 495 | 16.0 |
| Phillip Sharp Middle School | 6-8 | 418 | 16.7 |
Towns near Butler
- Falmouth, KY8.3 mi · 2,216 people · home $100,800
- Claryville, KY9.0 mi · 2,992 people · home $278,200
- Crittenden, KY12.4 mi · 4,023 people · home $223,800
- Alexandria, KY12.5 mi · 10,341 people · home $284,800
- Ryland Heights, KY13.7 mi · 922 people · home $213,700
- New Richmond, OH13.7 mi · 2,727 people · home $235,900
- Walton, KY14.1 mi · 5,460 people · home $262,200
- Dry Ridge, KY14.2 mi · 2,102 people · home $216,800
Butler questions
Is Butler, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Butler scores better for retirees than 73% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 75%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Butler?
The median owner-occupied home in Butler is valued at $158,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,341, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in Butler?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 23.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 17.9 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 EF4 on March 2, 2012. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)