D

Butler, WI

Source:

Affordability Score: 46/100

Population: 1,841 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Butler, WI aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 1,841 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (46/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $60,000, median home value of $244,700, median rent of $890 per month, and 22.7% 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 $1,338 per month (studio $1,027, 1BR $1,119, 3BR $1,648, 4BR $1,784). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $15,236 per year, consuming 25% of the local median household income.

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 education, housing, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 2.7% and poverty 11.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$60,000
Median household income
Education F
22.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.1x
Home value $244,700 vs income
Commute B
21 min
Average commute time
Rent C+
$1,338/mo
2BR fair market rent (27% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$15,236/yr
Center-based infant care (25% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$60,000
▼ 3% vs national
Per Capita Income
$34,086
Unemployment Rate
2.7%
Poverty Rate
11.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$244,700
▼ 11% vs national
Median Rent
$890/mo
Owner Occupied
51.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,338/mo
▲ 12% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,027
1BR
$1,119
2BR
$1,338
3BR
$1,648
4BR
$1,784

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%
▼ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
66.2%
Median Age
45.4
Avg. Commute
21 min
▼ 5 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$15,236/yr
25% of income
Toddler (Center)
$13,455/yr
Preschool (Center)
$13,455/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,660/yr

What This Means

Butler, WI receives an overall affordability grade of D (46/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 1,841. Challenges include education and housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Butler, WI affordable?
Butler, WI receives an overall affordability grade of D (46/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $60,000. Median home value is $244,700.
What is the cost of living in Butler?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $890/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,338/mo. Infant childcare $15,236/yr. Median home value $244,700.
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 →