NOTE: This section is subject to revision based on your feedback.
A community’s demographics provide insight into its population, housing, economy, education status and workforce. There is substantial data available from the United States Census Bureau and Stats Indiana regarding past and current demographic characteristics.
Various facets of Butler’s demographic status are explored below, primarily in comparison with DeKalb County, the State of Indiana and seven other Indiana cities and towns that are within 5% of Butler’s 2015 estimated population.
Summaries are provided following each table below in an effort to determine how Butler stacks up with similar communities.
Future community growth policies can be addressed based upon the findings provided by the data.
Butler & DeKalb County – Census Totals – 1940-2010 –
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Year | Butler | Percent Change | DeKalb County | Percent Change |
| 2010 | 2,684 | -1.5% | 42,223 | 4.6% |
| 2000 | 2,725 | 4.6% | 40,285 | 12.3% |
| 1990 | 2,601 | 3.5% | 35,324 | 4.9% |
| 1980 | 2,509 | 4.6% | 33,606 | 8.2% |
| 1970 | 2,394 | 9.1% | 30,837 | 8.3% |
| 1960 | 2,176 | 12.0% | 28,271 | 8.0% |
| 1950 | 1,914 | 6.3% | 26,023 | 4.9% |
| 1940 | 1,794 | 24,756 |
Butler’s population has been relatively stagnant since 1970, only growing an average 2.8% per decade from 1970 to 2010. DeKalb County’s population has grown an average 7.5% per decade during the same timeframe.
Educational Attainment – 2015 Estimates – Source: Stats America
Comparison of Butler with seven other Indiana communities that are within 5% +/- of Butler’s estimated 2015 population:
City or Town | Population Estimate | High School Diploma or More – | Bachelor’s Degree or More – % of Adult 25+ |
| Butler | 2,870 | 82.6% | 9.5% |
| Brookville | 2,573 | 85.0% | 22.8% |
| Centerville | 2,609 | 90.8% | 17.6% |
| Covington | 2,553 | 93.2% | 17.5% |
| Fort Branch | 2,971 | 94.0% | 19.3% |
| Lagrange | 2,723 | 80.2% | 5.9% |
| Loogootee | 2,701 | 83.3% | 12.4% |
| Rockville | 2,577 | 89.4% | 14.2% |
| AVERAGES | 2,697 | 87.3% | 14.9% |
Butler’s percentage of adults ages 25 and older, who have high school diplomas or bachelor’s degrees is lower than the averages for the eight comparison communities.
Employment & Income – 2015 Estimates – Source: Stats America
Comparison of Butler with seven other Indiana communities (cities and towns) that are within 5% +/- of Butler’s estimated 2015 population:
City or Town | Labor Force -Persons Working in Area | Unemployment Rate | Median Household Income | Poverty Rate | Community Distress Factor, 2017 |
| Butler | 1,379 | 11.3% | $37,277 | 19.5% | 93.05 |
| Brookville | 1,260 | 7.2% | $38,333 | 15.9% | 84.92 |
| Centerville | 1,267 | 10.7% | $45,433 | 22.8% | 88.01 |
| Covington | 1,170 | 8.7% | $49,455 | 7.8% | 77.91 |
| Fort Branch | 1,485 | 3.0% | $46,466 | 7.9% | 67.51 |
| Lagrange | 1,342 | 7.8% | $40,833 | 18.1% | 83.29 |
| Loogootee | 1,340 | 9.6% | $39,070 | 20.0% | 86.55 |
| Rockville | 1,151 | 3.7% | $26,035 | 24.2% | 96.77 |
| AVERAGES | 1,299 | 7.8% | $40,363 | 17.0% | 84.75 |
Although Butler had a higher than average number of persons in the labor force in 2015, it also had a higher than average unemployment rate, poverty rate and community distress factor (2017 data). Butler’s median household income was also lower than average for the seven comparison communities.
Population & Age – 2015 Estimates – Source: Stats America
Comparison of Butler with DeKalb County and the State of Indiana:
Population by Age, 2015 | Butler | Percent of Total | DeKalb County | Percent of Total | Indiana | Percent of Total |
Total Population Estimate | 2,870 | 100.0% | 42,980 | 100.0% | 6,568,645 | 100.0% |
Preschool | 206 | 7.2% | 2,743 | 6.4% | 420,939 | 6.4% |
School Age | 576 | 20.1% | 9,027 | 21.0% | 1,165,712 | 17.7% |
College Age (18-24) | 381 | 13.3% | 2,446 | 5.7% | 665,721 | 10.1% |
Young Adult (25-44) | 644 | 22.4% | 10,154 | 23.6% | 1,668,106 | 25.4% |
Adult (45-64) | 705 | 24.6% | 11,986 | 27.9% | 1,735,036 | 26.4% |
Older Adult (65+) | 358 | 12.5% | 6,624 | 15.4% | 913,131 | 13.9% |
Median Age | 34.2 | 38.6 | 37.3 |
Butler’s median age (meaning there is an equal number of people older and younger than the median age) is 34.2, lower than either DeKalb County or Indiana. Butler also has a higher percentage of college age persons (18-24), and a lower percentage of older adults (65+) as part of its population than DeKalb County and Indiana. This can be interpreted that Butler’s population is slightly younger than average.
Housing Units – 2015 Estimates – Source: Stats America
Comparison of Butler with seven other Indiana communities that are within 5% +/- of Butler’s estimated 2015 population, and the State of Indiana (NOTE: not all totals per community add up to 100% due to other categories not apparently listed in the Stats America data):
City or Town | Owner Occupied | Renter Occupied | Built |
| Butler | 59.8% | 29.9% | 36.3% |
| Brookville | 47.7% | 38.7% | 32.6% |
| Centerville | 65.4% | 24.8% | 21.1% |
| Covington | 67.7% | 24.8% | 32.7% |
| Fort Branch | 72.7% | 20.3% | 20.5% |
| Lagrange | 53.4% | 38.7% | 36.7% |
| Loogootee | 60.2% | 34.5% | 20.6% |
| Rockville | 52.9% | 30.6% | 29.8% |
| AVERAGES | 60.0% | 30.3% | 28.8% |
| INDIANA | 61.2% | 27.5% | 17.8% |
The percentage of owner-occupied versus renter occupied housing in Butler is close to the averages for the eight comparison communities. The percentage of houses built prior to 1940, however, is higher than the average for the comparison communities, and significantly higher than the state average.
Resident Occupations – 2015 Estimates – Source: Stats America
Comparison of Butler with the State of Indiana:
Category | Butler | Percent of Total | Indiana | Percent of Total |
Employed Civilian Population Aged 16+ | 1,223 | 100.0% | 3,297,501 | 100.0% |
Management, Professional & Related | 199 | 14.4% | 983,127 | 29.8% |
Service | 215 | 15.6% | 517,254 | 15.7% |
Sales & Office | 224 | 16.2% | 708,055 | 21.5% |
Farming, Fishing & Forestry | 4 | 0.3% | 13,246 | 0.4% |
Construction, Extraction & Maintenance | 99 | 7.2% | 254,864 | 7.7% |
Production, Transportation & Material Moving | 482 | 35.0% | 562,216 | 17.0% |
Butler’s largest employment sector is clearly “Production, Transportation & Material Moving.” The percentages for the “Service” and “Construction, Extraction & Maintenance” sectors are similar for Butler and Indiana. Butler’s “Management, Professional & Related” sector is less than half of the Indiana percentage.
COMMENTS
What do you think are the most important facets of Butler’s current demographics? What factors are most important to Butler’s future? You are welcome to submit your ideas and comments via our Comments form.
We appreciate your participation and input.
The Roads to Butler's Future 