Cost of Living in Butte County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Butte County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Butte County ranks #2,827 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Butte County Official GRAPI Exceeds State Unweighted County Mean
The official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) in Butte County was 36.7%, which is 5.0 percentage points higher than the California unweighted county mean of 31.7%. This metric is the official ACS B25071 estimate. The median income for renter households was $43,174. Median gross rent in the county was estimated at $1,414 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,691. Among homeowners, the median home value was $424,700, which is $179,412 below the state unweighted county mean of $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs were $1,442, also below the state unweighted county mean of $1,881. The overall median household income was $67,928. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Butte County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 36.7% of renter household income in Butte County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,414 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,442. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $56,560 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Butte County's $1,414 median is 16.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Butte County
Rent Burden
25.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,585
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.5%
of gross income
The median home in Butte County may be a stretch
Median home value is $424,700. Estimated monthly cost: $3,391 vs. your max of $1,585.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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