RANK #537 / 1001 NAT · #8 / 10 KS · POP 68,287
1YR FORECAST: +1.9%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
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.
Butler County is one of 145 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +4.3% runs below the profile's typical +4.9%.
See all 145 Heartland Steady Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 14.4x — home prices are high 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.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Butler County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| 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 1001 counties.
Butler County scores 46/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#537). Median household income is $81,610 and job growth is running at +0.5%. 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 $217,600, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.38 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $956/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Butler County's population is growing — up +0.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.5%). Home values shifted +4.3% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.67% 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.