countyscore
38.5
County Score
Property Tax 60.9Lawn Care 60.3Weather & Climate 60.1

County Report Card

About Butte County, California

Butte trails national livability standard

Butte County's composite score of 39.3 falls short of the national median of 50.0, landing in the 30th percentile nationwide. Wildfires and economic recovery have shaped its recent trajectory.

Below California's already modest average

With a score of 39.3, Butte ranks below California's state average of 40.9, placing it in the lower half of the state's 58 counties. It faces steeper livability headwinds than most California peers.

Affordability and tax benefits emerge

Butte offers some of California's most accessible housing, with a median home value of $408,700 and rent of $1,369 monthly (cost score 10.4). A favorable tax burden of 0.690% effective rate and decent schools (58.5) provide stability.

Health and income need strengthening

Butte's health score of 59.2 lags state norms, signaling healthcare access or outcome concerns, while its income score of 63.3 reflects a median household income of just $68,574. Wildfire exposure (risk score 6.1) remains a persistent vulnerability.

Best for resilient residents seeking affordability

Butte suits cost-conscious families and early-career workers prioritizing low housing costs and rural charm over healthcare richness or high incomes. Those concerned about wildfire risk or seeking robust job markets should explore the Central Valley alternatives.

2040608010060.910.614.959.258.557.26.157.260.1Tax60.9Cost10.6Safety14.9Health59.2Schools58.5Income57.2Risk6.1Water57.2Weather60.138.5/100
This county
National avg
3 below average

Butte County DNA

Foverall

How Butte County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Butte County is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Health (59.2/100) but notably weak in Disaster Risk (6.1/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
60.9+8.899999999999999
Cost
10.6-37.4
Safety
14.9-40.1
Health
59.2+9.200000000000003
Schools
58.5
Income
57.2
Risk
6.1-40.9
Water
57.2
Weather
60.1
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Compare mortgage rates in Butte County

Whether buying or refinancing in Butte County, compare rates from top lenders to find the best deal.

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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$424,700

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$1,414/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$424,700/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$56,560/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum6.3x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $67,928/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

13.4

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Counties with similar scores

Mesa County
Colorado
Median income: $73,658
38.5
Ogle County
Illinois
Median income: $82,132
38.5
Androscoggin County
Maine
Median income: $67,873
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Cortland County
New York
Median income: $70,418
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Franklin County
North Carolina
Median income: $74,240
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Rowan County
North Carolina
Median income: $65,725
38.5
Cass County
North Dakota
Median income: $75,555
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Lexington County
South Carolina
Median income: $77,408
38.5

Nearby counties

Yuba County
California
37.4
Glenn County
California
41.7
Plumas County
California
40.3
Sutter County
California
35.6
Colusa County
California
41.9
Tehama County
California
36.4
Nevada County
California
44.8
Sierra County
California
53

Deep Dives

Butte County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Butte County

via TaxByCounty

Butte taxes 2.8× the national median

Butte County's effective tax rate of 0.690% far exceeds the national median of 0.25%, landing it in the 80th percentile nationally. North State residents here shoulder property tax burdens substantially higher than most American homeowners.

Slightly below state average in rank

At 0.690%, Butte County falls just under California's average of 0.714%, placing it in the middle tier among the state's 58 counties. Median annual taxes of $2,819 remain well below the state median of $4,045.

Competitive with northern Sierra counties

Butte's 0.690% rate aligns closely with Alpine (0.684%) and Amador (0.695%), making it among the lower-taxed counties in the region. All three share similar economic profiles and tax structures within a 0.01% range.

Typical Butte home: $2,819 per year

A median-valued Butte County home of $408,700 generates approximately $2,819 in annual property taxes. Mortgaged properties see slightly higher effective burden at $3,205 due to additional assessments and fees.

Check your assessment for accuracy

Butte County homeowners can appeal their assessments if recent market data suggests overvaluation. Taking 30 minutes to file an appeal could save you hundreds annually in tax liability.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in Butte County

via IncomeByCounty

Butte lags behind national average

Butte County's median household income of $68,574 falls 8% short of the national median of $74,755, placing it among lower-income California counties. The county faces economic headwinds from reduced timber industry employment and housing recovery challenges.

Among California's lower-income counties

Butte's $68,574 median household income ranks well below California's state average of $87,001, a gap of over $18,400 per household. The county's per capita income of $37,965 also trails the state's $43,669 average.

Struggling among rural peers

Butte's median income of $68,574 ranks lowest among the eight profiled counties, trailing even Del Norte County's $66,780. The county faces structural economic challenges distinct from its rural Sierra neighbors.

Housing costs strain budgets

Butte's 24% rent-to-income ratio represents the highest housing cost burden in this group, with median home value of $408,700 requiring substantial household commitment. Even lower median incomes mean residents spend nearly a quarter of earnings on rent alone.

Strategic savings despite tight budgets

While Butte households face tighter budgets than California averages, building even modest emergency savings of $500-$1,000 monthly strengthens financial security. Consider low-cost investment options and employer retirement plans to begin wealth-building despite current income constraints.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Butte County

via CrimeByCounty

Butte County Matches National Crime Trends

Butte County reports 2,395.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, placing it right in line with the national average of 2,385.5. The county earns a safety score of 96.2.

Consistent with California State Averages

The county’s safety score of 96.2 is just 0.1 points shy of the California average of 96.3. Its total crime rate of 2,395.1 is also very close to the state average of 2,355.2.

Butte County vs Northern Neighbors

Butte County’s rate of 2,395.1 is higher than nearby Colusa County, which reports a significantly lower 1,971.5. Ten local agencies provide data that reflects a moderate crime profile for the region.

Property Crime Dominates Local Reports

There are 1,789.8 property crimes per 100,000 residents, compared to 605.3 violent crimes. While violent crime is higher than the national average of 369.8, property crime is actually lower than the national rate of 2,015.7.

Focused Security for Butte Residents

Since property crime is the most common issue, securing packages and locking windows remains a priority. Modern doorbell cameras and smart locks are effective tools for deterring opportunistic theft in local neighborhoods.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Butte County

via WeatherByCounty

A Hot Climate with High Precipitation

Butte County averages 59.9°F, which is notably warmer than the median temperature across the United States. Its 48.1 inches of annual rain is also well above the national median.

Much Wetter Than the California Average

With 48.1 inches of rain, Butte is nearly twice as wet as the California state average of 25.8 inches. Its annual temperature of 59.9°F also runs slightly higher than the state average.

Wetter and Snowier Than Colusa

Butte receives 48.1 inches of rain and 27.4 inches of snow, vastly exceeding neighboring Colusa County's totals. It offers a more varied mountain climate compared to the flatter valley floor.

Sizzling Summers and Snowy Mountain Winters

Residents endure 72 extreme heat days each year as July temperatures average 76.8°F. Winter brings a significant contrast with 27.4 inches of snowfall and an average temp of 46.4°F.

Gear Up for Heat and Snow

Residents need both powerful air conditioning for 72 heat days and snow-clearing tools for the 27.4-inch winter average. Waterproofing is also critical given the high 48.1 inches of annual rain.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Butte County

via SoilByCounty

The Hidden Roots of the Valley

Butte County does not have recorded pH or taxonomic data in this specific set. While California averages a 6.34 pH, your local valley soil may vary significantly from the national 6.5 median. A simple soil probe can help you identify your ground's unique chemistry.

Unmasking the Valley Soil Blend

Specific sand, silt, and clay figures are currently unlisted for Butte County. Understanding this composition is vital for nutrient retention and workability in your garden. We recommend home testing to see if your soil is heavy clay or easy-to-work loam.

Nurturing Fertility in Butte

We lack data for Butte's organic matter and water capacity against the state average of 3.30%. Improving your soil with organic compost can enhance its ability to hold water and nutrients, regardless of the baseline.

Managing Water in the North Valley

Drainage and hydrologic data are not provided for this county in the current dataset. In a region known for agriculture, paying close attention to how your land handles runoff is key to a productive harvest.

Abundant Growth in Zone 9b

Butte County sits in the productive Zone 9b, ideal for everything from almonds to citrus. Take advantage of the long growing season and start your garden with heat-loving crops today.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Butte County

via LawnByCounty

Abundant Water for Butte Lawns

Butte County scores a 60.3 on the lawn difficulty scale, making it easier to grow grass here than in many other parts of California. This zone 9b region benefits from high rainfall, though it faces more extreme heat than the national average. You will find that keeping a green lawn is much more achievable than the state average score of 51.3 would suggest.

High Rainfall and Intense Sun

Butte receives 48.1 inches of annual precipitation, placing it at the top end of the ideal range for lawn growth. This water wealth is offset by 72 extreme heat days, which is much higher than the California average of 59 days. Your mowing schedule will be busiest in the spring, but you must be careful not to cut too short during the blistering July heat.

Building a Healthy Soil Base

Specific soil metrics for Butte County are unavailable, but with 4,283 growing degree days, your soil works hard to support rapid growth. You should test your soil's pH to see if it matches the 6.0-7.0 ideal range for most turfgrasses. Proper aeration is often necessary in this region to prevent compaction from the heavy annual rains.

Strong Water Security

Butte County currently experiences zero drought conditions, maintaining 100% drought-free status over the last year. Despite this, the high number of extreme heat days means your lawn can dry out faster than you expect. Efficient irrigation remains important to manage the intense summer sun while taking advantage of the high annual rainfall.

Best Grasses for the Sacramento Valley

Warm-season grasses like Bermuda thrive in Butte’s heat, but Tall Fescue is also a common choice for its year-round green. Your frost-free window runs from March 4 to December 7, giving you a very long period to establish new growth. Plant in late winter or early spring to let your lawn mature before the 90-degree days arrive in force.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Butte County's county score?
Butte County, California has a composite county score of 38.5 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Butte County rank among counties in California?
Butte County ranks #38 among all counties in California on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Butte County, California?
The median annual property tax in Butte County is $2,951, with an effective tax rate of 0.69%. This earns Butte County a tax score of 60.9/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Butte County?
The median household income in Butte County, California is $67,928 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Butte County earns an income score of 57.2/100 on CountyScore.
Is Butte County, California a good place to live?
Butte County scores 38.5/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #38 in California. The best way to evaluate Butte County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Butte County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, NOAA — informational only.