County · California

Butte County, California

Butte County, California. Butte County had 209,211 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). It holds 30 places (5 cities, villages and boroughs and 25 census-designated) and 54 census tracts. GEOID 06007.

Butte County is the county of the Chico, CA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

209,211

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 211,632 · ACS 2020-2024: 207,929

Median household income

$67,928

±$2,444 (90% margin)
California: $99,122

Median home value

$424,700

±$6,679 (90% margin)
California: $734,700

Median gross rent

$1,414

±$26 (90% margin)
California: $2,036

How many people live in Butte County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 211,632 residents in Butte County. The Census Bureau estimates 209,211 for July 1, 2025, down 1.1% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 207,929 over 1,637 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −3,851 (206,353)
2021→2022 +959 (207,312)
2022→2023 −26 (207,286)
2023→2024 +1,300 (208,586)
2024→2025 +625 (209,211)

Butte County in California. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Butte County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	207,929	39,287,377	−17,888
Households	83,312±819	13,548,091	−2,008
Average household size	2.42±0.02	2.84	−0.15
Housing units	92,813±113	14,644,735	−3,692

Butte County's population since 2000

From 203,171 in 2000 to 209,211 in 2025: up 3.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 203,171
2005 (estimate) 214,752
2010 Census 220,000
2015 (estimate) 224,643
2020 Census 211,632
2025 (estimate) 209,211

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Butte County?

Butte County holds 30 places: 5 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 25 census-designated places. The largest is Chico with 105,081 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Butte County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Chico	city	101,475	102,188±69	$66,977	$468,100	22.7%	100%
Oroville	city	20,042	19,752±40	$52,270	$311,600	21.4%	100%
Oroville East	CDP	8,038	7,504±916	$94,512	$405,400	8.7%	100%
Magalia	CDP	7,795	7,389±1,013	$56,920	$280,600	11.8%	100%
Gridley	city	7,421	7,330±24	$57,974	$312,800	17.9%	100%
Thermalito	CDP	7,198	6,720±767	$54,865	$254,900	20.4%	100%
Durham	CDP	5,834	5,340±817	$95,417	$700,100	10.2%	100%
Palermo	CDP	5,555	5,266±674	$50,588	$283,000	20.1%	100%
Paradise, Butte County	town	4,764	7,392±25	$67,687	$416,000	18.2%	100%
South Oroville	CDP	3,235	2,846±634	$65,409	$261,500	33.7%	100%
Kelly Ridge	CDP	3,006	2,825±554	$54,631	$277,600	12.3%	100%
Biggs	city	1,964	2,307±501	$84,914	$328,400	7.4%	100%
Berry Creek	CDP	1,637	760±234	$45,673	$249,200	37.8%	100%
Forest RanchGEOID 0624918	CDP	1,304	1,915±761	$131,650	$445,800	1.5%	100%
Butte ValleyGEOID 0609324	CDP	945	1,087±469	$97,934	$462,100	31.2%	100%
CohassetGEOID 0614442	CDP	830	573±280	$79,674	$500,000	2.3%	100%
Butte Creek CanyonGEOID 0609310	CDP	780	713±266	$105,819	$695,300	8.3%	100%
BangorGEOID 0603792	CDP	695	597±307	$120,347	$378,400	13.1%	100%
ConcowGEOID 0616035	CDP	402	183±82	$37,000	not published	16.9%	100%
ForbestownGEOID 0624750	CDP	396	90±97	not published	not published	14.4%	100%
HoncutGEOID 0634428	CDP	306	271±194	$187,742	$275,000	53.5%	100%
NordGEOID 0651574	CDP	286	190±157	$69,199	$369,400	0.0%	100%
Stirling CityGEOID 0674186	CDP	284	344±292	not published	$265,100	10.5%	100%
Yankee HillGEOID 0686678	CDP	260	232±116	$76,806	$534,100	6.9%	100%
RichvaleGEOID 0660662	CDP	234	145±79	$53,984	not published	15.9%	100%
RackerbyGEOID 0659115	CDP	210	138±65	$62,813	$305,000	17.4%	100%
Clipper MillsGEOID 0614148	CDP	160	414±468	not published	not published	85.7%	100%
Robinson MillGEOID 0662200	CDP	89	100±65	not published	not published	0.0%	100%
CherokeeGEOID 0612818	CDP	88	99±111	$70,815	not published	67.7%	100%
Butte MeadowsGEOID 0609318	CDP	74	25±32	not published	not published	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Butte County?

The median resident of Butte County is 36.2 years old; 20.4% are under 18 and 18.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 65.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 20.0%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Butte County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	36.2±0.3	37.9	−0.9
Under 18 years	20.4%	22.0%	–
65 years and over	18.4%±0.1 pts	15.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	20.0%	40.2%	+3.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	65.1%±0.5 pts	33.8%	−6.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.7%±0.2 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	5.5%±0.3 pts	15.3%	+1.0 pts
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.8%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	5.9%±0.5 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.3 pts	0.6%	–
Born outside the United States	8.6%±0.7 pts	27.0%	+1.3 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	16.6%±0.9 pts	44.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.8%±0.5 pts	4.3%	–
With a disability	16.3%±0.6 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	6.4%±0.6 pts	6.6%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	90.6%±0.7 pts	84.7%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	31.9%±1.0 pts	37.1%	+4.7 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	11.4%±0.7 pts	14.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.9%±0.2 pts	1.1%	–

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 County earn?

Half of Butte County's 83,312 households earn less than $67,928 a year (±$2,444), against $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $64,657 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $3,271 after inflation. 19.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Butte County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$67,928±$2,444	$99,122	+$3,271
Mean household income	$95,414±$2,606	$140,436	–
Per capita income	$38,305±$999	$49,513	+$1,992
People below the poverty line	19.2%±0.9 pts	12.0%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	21.1%±2.6 pts	15.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	16.0%±0.9 pts	12.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	91.8%±0.8 pts	93.5%	–

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 County?

Owners occupy 57.3% of Butte County's occupied homes and renters 42.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $424,700 by its owner (±$6,679). The median renter pays $1,414 a month including utilities, and 52.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Butte County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$424,700±$6,679	$734,700	+$90,320
Median gross rent	$1,414±$26	$2,036	+$109
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	52.6%±2.6 pts	46.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$2,187±$57	$2,946	–
Owner-occupied homes	57.3%±1.1 pts	55.9%	−1.7 pts
Housing units	92,813±113	14,644,735	−3,692
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.6%±0.6 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	5.9%±1.4 pts	4.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	60.5%±1.2 pts	57.0%	–
Mobile homes	10.3%±0.7 pts	3.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	2.8%±0.5 pts	1.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	6.7%±0.6 pts	8.9%	–

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 many new homes is Butte County building?

Builders took permits for 997 new housing units across Butte County in 2025 (662 single-family), 4.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 1,426 units
2020 1,837 units
2021 2,050 units
2022 1,853 units
2023 929 units
2024 946 units
2025 997 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Butte County get to work?

71.9% of Butte County's workers drive alone and 12.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Butte County	California	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.2%±0.9 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	7.5%±0.7 pts	6.6%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	71.9%±1.3 pts	65.7%	–
Carpooled	9.4%±0.9 pts	9.5%	–
Public transportation	0.6%±0.2 pts	2.9%	–
Walked	2.9%±0.5 pts	2.4%	–
Worked from home	12.6%±0.9 pts	17.2%	+7.0 pts
Mean travel time to work	21.0 min±0.7	28.7 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 are Butte County's census tracts?

Butte County is divided into 54 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $28,224 (Tract 5.02) to $127,637 (Tract 14).

All 54 census tracts of Butte County, with their figures

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Butte County compare with California's other counties?

Butte County's rank among California's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	28th of 58
Growth 2020-2025	31st of 58
Residents per square mile	26th of 58
Median household income	45th of 58
Median home value	36th of 58
Median gross rent	32nd of 56
Poverty rate	3rd of 57
Bachelor's degree or higher	24th of 58
Median age	41st of 58

Every county in California

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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.