Census-designated place · Alaska
Butte, Alaska
Butte, census-designated place, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. Butte had 3,589 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,085 (±274). GEOID 0209710.
Residents, 2020 Census
3,589
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 4,085 ±274
Median household income
$101,042
±$16,326 (90% margin)
Alaska: $92,788
Median home value
$374,600
±$25,055 (90% margin)
Alaska: $352,900
Median gross rent
$1,610
±$148 (90% margin)
Alaska: $1,419
Where is Butte and what county is it in?
Butte is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It covers 33.8 square miles of land, 106 residents per square mile in 2020.
Butte is in the Anchorage, AK metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Butte, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 3,589 residents in Butte, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 4,085 (±274).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Butte is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Butte | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,085 ±274 | 112,988 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,422 ±100 | 39,869 | +287 |
| Average household size | 2.87 ±0.15 | 2.77 | −0.65 |
| Housing units | 1,561 ±102 | 51,170 | +306 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Butte?
The median resident of Butte is 42.2 years old; 23.7% are under 18 and 16.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.9%. 2.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Butte | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 ±2.0 | 36.7 | +5.4 |
| Under 18 years | 23.7% ±2.1 pts | 25.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.0% ±2.5 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Male | 49.9% ±2.1 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.3% ±2.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.6% ±3.8 pts | 75.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.7 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.9% ±2.2 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.1% ±1.1 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.2% ±2.1 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 14.3% ±2.8 pts | 13.3% | – |
| With a disability | 16.1% ±2.5 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 14.3% ±5.6 pts | 11.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.1% ±1.5 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 33.7% ±3.5 pts | 24.4% | +8.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.7% ±3.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.8% ±2.2 pts | 88.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2% ±0.6 pts | 2.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Butte earn?
Half of Butte's 1,422 households earn less than $101,042 a year (±$16,326), against $94,031 in Matanuska-Susitna Borough and $92,788 in Alaska. In 2015-2019 it was $97,942 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 6.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Butte | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $101,042 ±$16,326 | $94,031 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $117,667 ±$12,555 | $115,954 | – |
| Per capita income | $42,934 ±$4,234 | $42,386 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.7% ±3.0 pts | 10.0% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.1% ±6.5 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.1% ±2.4 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.2% ±1.6 pts | 97.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.4% ±1.9 pts | 93.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Butte?
Owners occupy 82.9% of Butte's occupied homes and renters 17.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $374,600 by its owner (±$25,055). The median renter pays $1,610 a month including utilities, and 39.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Butte | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $374,600 ±$25,055 | $346,600 | +$61,511 |
| Median gross rent | $1,610 ±$148 | $1,299 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.2% ±14.1 pts | 41.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,284 ±$90 | $2,112 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 82.9% ±4.2 pts | 77.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 17.1% ±4.2 pts | 22.8% | – |
| Housing units | 1,561 ±102 | 51,170 | +306 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 9.2% ±5.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.3% ±2.8 pts | 83.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.6% ±2.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.9% ±5.0 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.7% ±4.0 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.5% ±1.0 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.9% ±1.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Butte work and get to work?
68.3% of Butte's workers drive alone and 13.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 34.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Butte | Matanuska-Susitna Borough | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.2% ±3.9 pts | 60.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% ±1.7 pts | 5.8% | −2.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 68.3% ±5.4 pts | 71.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.9% ±3.1 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 4.8% ±2.8 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.5% ±5.0 pts | 11.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 34.0 min ±3.7 | 34.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Butte?
No census tract lies mostly in Butte; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 13Matanuska-Susitna Borough | 6,427 | $102,802 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Butte) · Census block assignment files
How does Butte compare with other places in Alaska?
Butte ranks 21st of 69 places in Alaska with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 30th | 71 |
| Residents per square mile | 36th | 71 |
| Median household income | 21st | 69 |
| Per capita income | 41st | 71 |
| Median home value | 15th | 66 |
| Median gross rent | 11th | 62 |
| Poverty rate | 49th | 57 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20th | 69 |
| Median age | 18th | 71 |
| Owner-occupied share | 16th | 68 |
| Work from home | 12th | 50 |
| Travel time to work | 14th | 69 |
Butte's figures with every place in Alaska (CSV)
Every place in Alaska, sortable · Compare Butte with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Butte?
10 of the 57 figures for Butte on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Butte are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.