RANK #333 / 996 · POP 67,618 · KS
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.4%
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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| 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 has a Boom Town Index score of 67/100, ranking #333 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -0.7% and a median household income of $77,724, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Butler County is $181,700 with median rent at $963/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.4278, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +0.3% year-over-year. Job growth: -0.7%. Home values changed +4.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.1% of Butler County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.