Butler, PA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

Butler County · Pittsburgh · population 13,010

First-time buyersShrinkingSmall-town feel
View watchlist →
66
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Butler stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 4.7% in the last year. population shrinking 0.9% per year. rents up 20.1% in the last year.

Median home $244,059
1-year +4.7%
5-yr CAGR +4.6%
vs 5-yr peak -1.0%
Population -0.9%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-02$244k$138k$177k$217k$256k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
59/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,002/mo$781$921$1,0622026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent1051211001202026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 20.3
Lean rent

At a 20.3 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Butler. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
74 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
62 · w22%
Distance from peak
84 · w18%
Population growth
31 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
57 · w10%
Long thesis

Butler has held up across the cycle: home values at $244,059 with +4.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Butler's population is shrinking 0.9% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — if people are leaving, the buyer pool is shrinking faster than the inventory. That eventually shows up in price.

About Butler

Butler is a city in Butler County, Pennsylvania, with an estimated population of 13,010. It anchors the Pittsburgh metro area. The population has contracted 0.9% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Butler is $244,059 as of 2026-04, up 4.7% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Butler average $1,002 per month, up 20.1% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 66 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Affordable AND rising: median home $244,059 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.
Quiet strength: +4.7% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
Held the highs: currently -1.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
Hot rental market: rents up 20.1% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

Bear case

Flat or shrinking population: -0.9% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
Rental squeeze: rents up 20.1% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Butler County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Butler County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Neighborhoods of Butler

6 tracked · ranked by median home value
1Nixon$375,442+11.3%
2Oak Hills$299,385+13.4%
3Shanor-Northvue$288,639+6.2%
4Meridian$281,359+1.7%
5Homeacre-Lyndora$228,125+3.3%
6Meadowood$210,490+6.0%

Cities like Butler

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
36° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
83° / 63°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
186
~51% of year
Annual precip
42″ rain
30″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Low
Tornado
Low
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Pittsburgh area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Butler listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$73,800
Pennsylvania state median
Top industries (state-level)
Healthcare (Pittsburgh)Finance (Philly)Manufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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