D

Butler, MO

Source:

Affordability Score: 48/100

Population: 7,109 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Butler, MO aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 7,109 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (48/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $49,883, median home value of $165,400, median rent of $894 per month, and 16.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $927 per month (studio $702, 1BR $706, 3BR $1,232, 4BR $1,555).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education. Unemployment currently reads 7.4% and poverty 20.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$49,883
Median household income
Education F
16.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C
3.3x
Home value $165,400 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$927/mo
2BR fair market rent (22% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$49,883
▼ 20% vs national
Per Capita Income
$27,440
Unemployment Rate
7.4%
Poverty Rate
20.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$165,400
▼ 40% vs national
Median Rent
$894/mo
Owner Occupied
68.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$927/mo
▼ 23% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$702
1BR
$706
2BR
$927
3BR
$1,232
4BR
$1,555

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
16.5%
▼ 13 ppt vs national
High School+
63.7%
Median Age
40.5
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Butler, MO receives an overall affordability grade of D (48/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 7,109. Challenges include income and education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Butler ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Butler, MO affordable?
Butler, MO receives an overall affordability grade of D (48/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $49,883. Median home value is $165,400.
What is the cost of living in Butler?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $894/mo. 2BR fair market rent $927/mo. Median home value $165,400.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →