Map the Block › Places › California › Butte County
Butte County, California: crime rate, income and local data
Butte County averaged 6.3 reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents a year in 2021-2025, 31% higher than the California rate (4.8). Households here have a median income of $67,928 and the unemployment rate was 6.2% in August 2026. About 207,929 people live in the county.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Butte County?
Police agencies in Butte County reported an average of 1,316 violent crimes and 3,664 property crimes a year from 2021 to 2025. That is 6.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 31% higher than the California rate (4.8), and 71% higher than the U.S. rate (3.7). For property crime the county rate is 17.6 per 1,000 (California: 21.2; U.S.: 18.1). Aggravated assaults make up 74% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 8 homicide deaths a year in the county (3.8 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Butte County | Per 1,000 | California per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 1,316 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 9 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 202 | 0.97 | 0.37 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 130 | 0.62 | 1.2 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 975 | 4.7 | 3.2 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 3,664 | 17.6 | 21.2 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 570 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 2,616 | 12.5 | 13.6 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 478 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (5 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Butte County?
Median household income is $67,928, 31% lower than the statewide figure ($99,122). The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $424,700 by its owners; renters pay a median $1,414. 16.0% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 12.4%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 6.2% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 5,569 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Butte County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 207,929 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $67,928 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $424,700 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,414 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 7.5% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 19.2% | 12.0% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 16.0% | 12.4% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 31.9% | 37.1% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 57.3% | 55.9% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 36.2 | 37.9 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 91.8% | 93.5% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 6.4% | 6.6% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Butte County?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural-hazard risk for Butte County as “Relatively Moderate”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are wildfire (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
EPA lists 1 active Superfund site (final or proposed) in Butte County: Koppers Co., Inc. (Oroville Plant). 2 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
The National Inventory of Dams lists 17 high-hazard dams in Butte County. 2 are rated Poor or Unsatisfactory in condition, 15 Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Oroville Dam (770 ft) and Sly Creek (299 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Disasters, air and water
Butte County was covered by 9 federal major disaster declarations from 2016 through 2025 (Severe Storm 4, Fire 3, Flood 2), not counting COVID-19. In 2024, 2 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 41 community water systems, 13 had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 3 (low). NHTSA counted 34 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 6 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Butte County?
The state DOT feed had no interstate, U.S. or state highway work zones in Butte County on October 11, 2026. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel. The map's layer refreshes every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Butte County?
Butte County has 96 public schools (2024-25) and 8 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 9 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 44 fire or EMS stations and 6 police or sheriff stations. 4 state parks or recreation areas: Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park, Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area and Lake Oroville State Recreation Area.
What tribal lands and sacred sites are in Butte County?
Census tribal areas that reach into Butte County: Mechoopda TDSA, Mooretown Rancheria and Off-Reservation Trust Land, Berry Creek Rancheria and Off-Reservation Trust Land and Enterprise Rancheria and Off-Reservation Trust Land.
Tribal areas are Census statistical boundaries, shown for reference; they are not legal boundaries.
See them on the map: tribal lands →
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Butte County
Gun shops
5 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Butte County, plus 13 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 4 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Auto And Equipment Pawn (Oroville), Chico Cash Exchange (Chico), Gates Resale INC (Chico), Oro Jewelry And Loan (Oroville) and Sportsman's Warehouse #232 (Chico).
Liquor stores
31 liquor stores are on the map in Butte County: 5th & Ivy Liquor INC (Chico), ABC Market & Liquor (Chico), Anthonys Liquor (Chico), Bevmo (Chico), Blue Bird Liquor (Chico), City Liquor & Market (Chico), Corner Market (Chico), Discount Liquor & Beer (Oroville) and 23 more.
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map in Butte County: Planned Parenthood Northern California-Chico Center (Chico).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Butte County?
Butte County averaged 1,316 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 6.3 per 1,000 residents, 31% higher than the California rate (4.8). The property-crime rate was 17.6 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Butte County?
$67,928 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $99,122 for California and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Butte County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 6.2% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 5,569 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Butte County?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the overall natural-hazard risk for Butte County as “Relatively Moderate”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are wildfire (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Butte County?
EPA lists 1 active Superfund site (final or proposed) in Butte County: Koppers Co., Inc. (Oroville Plant). 2 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list.
Is there road construction in Butte County right now?
The state DOT feed had no interstate, U.S. or state highway work zones in Butte County on October 11, 2026. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel.
How many nursing homes are in Butte County?
9 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Butte County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colusa County | 21,984 | 3.3 | $75,672 |
| Glenn County | 28,494 | 5.1 | $67,139 |
| Plumas County | 19,423 | 6.8 | $66,031 |
| Sutter County | 98,857 | 4.3 | $79,704 |
| Tehama County | 65,167 | 5.0 | $63,784 |
| Yuba County | 84,507 | 4.3 | $76,373 |
Cities in Butte County with their own page: Chico.
More: California statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
Home · Open the map · All places · About the data · Privacy · Terms