RANK #844 / 996 · POP 213,605 · CA
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.0%
Butte County, California, offers a blend of natural beauty and community life, situated about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The city of Oroville, the county seat, is notable for the historic Bidwell Bar Bridge and the Mother Orange Tree, California's oldest orange tree, planted in 1856. The county's landscape ranges from the Sacramento River's riparian corridors to the Sierra Nevada foothills, providing extensive outdoor recreation. Residents and visitors can enjoy hiking and mountain biking in Upper Bidwell Park, whitewater rafting on the Feather River, or exploring waterfalls and wildflowers at North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve. Lake Oroville State Recreation Area is a major draw for boating, fishing, and camping.
Life in Butte County balances rural charm with access to urban amenities. Commute times are generally low, and public transit, B-Line, connects communities like Chico, Oroville, and Paradise. The county is home to California State University, Chico, and Butte College, which contribute to a local workforce and offer educational opportunities. Agriculture, including nut orchards, olives, and rice, forms a significant part of the economy, alongside growth in construction, education, and healthcare. Recent economic development has focused on rebuilding efforts following wildfires, emphasizing housing restoration and attracting workers to key industries.
Overvalued relative to economy
Well below national median
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Oroville Biomass Facility Redevelopment
MRJD
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Butte County Landfill Gas to Energy Project
Ameresco Energy
|
$50M | Operating |
|
Chico Affordable Housing Development
CCH
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Butte County has a Boom Town Index score of 15/100, ranking #844 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.9% and a median household income of $66,085, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Butte County is $371,600 with median rent at $1,280/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1778, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -2.0% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.9%. Home values changed +0.7% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 5.48% of Butte County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.