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RANK #448 / 996 NAT · #8 / 10 KS · POP 67,618
1YR FORECAST: +2.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
El Dorado, the county seat, is a notable town in Butler County, Kansas, located in the south-central part of the state. It is situated along the Walnut River and is approximately 30 miles east of Wichita, the largest city in Kansas. The county is the largest in Kansas by total area, characterized by rolling, grass-covered hills and broad river valleys. El Dorado Lake, a significant outdoor recreation area, offers opportunities for fishing, boating, hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Commutes within Butler County average around 24.2 minutes, with many residents commuting to Wichita.
Life in Butler County offers a blend of metropolitan and rural lifestyles. The public school system includes nine unified school districts, with several highly-rated elementary and high schools. The economy is diverse, with sectors such as petroleum production and refining, farming, ranching, and manufacturing. Butler Community College, located in El Dorado, is the second-largest community college in Kansas, providing numerous academic programs. The county's transportation infrastructure includes Interstate 35, which runs through the area, and access to Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.
Below national median (4.7x)
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
El Dorado Solar Farm
Hecate Energy
|
$550M | Proposed |
|
Butler Battery/Storage
Undisclosed
|
$225M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Butler County scores 55/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#448). Median household income is $77,724 and job growth is running at -0.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Butler County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $181,700, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.43 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $963/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Population and employment in Butler County are both close to flat — population +0.3% YoY and jobs -0.7%. Home values shifted +4.4% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.1% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Butler County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.