The Town Files

Butler County, Missouri

42,020 people. The median home is worth $145,100 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $49,089.

Towns in Butler County

Towns in Butler County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Poplar Bluff16,225$119,800$41,94137.3

People and housing

Butler CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$145,100$153,900
Median rent$780$855
Median household income$49,089$56,368
Median age39.538.6
Bachelor's degree or higher15.8%18.9%
Below the poverty line20.5%14.6%

Jobs and pay

18,133 jobs in 2024, average pay $46,285 a year.

Largest industries in Butler CountyHealth care & social assistan…4,058 jobs · $47,638Retail2,832 jobs · $33,542Hotels & restaurants1,902 jobs · $21,883Manufacturing1,842 jobs · $50,432Administrative & support599 jobs · $20,892Finance & insurance585 jobs · $63,629
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Butler County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 950 storm events in Butler County from 1996 to 2026, with 15 deaths.

Storm events in Butler County by type since 1996Hail114Heat71Flood58Drought45Tornado34Dense Fog88Flash Flood58Strong Wind90Frost/Freeze44Excessive Heat30
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Butler County has been included in 23 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 21, 2025Severe StormDR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires
May 21, 2025Severe StormDR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 23, 2024Severe StormDR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 9, 2020Severe StormDR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3482: Covid-19
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).