Butte County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$67,928$5,661 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Butte County, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Butte County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Chico, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,155 | $13,860 | $46,200 | 20.4% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,270 | $15,240 | $50,800 | 22.4% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,625 | $19,500 | $65,000 | 28.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,260 | $27,120 | $90,400 | 39.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,726 | $32,712 | $109,040 | 48.2% |
What a typical income covers in Butte County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $67,928 a year ($5,661 a month before tax).
What $67,928 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Butte County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Butte County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Butte County, CA is $67,928 per year (approximately $5,661 per month).
What is the average rent in Butte County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,155 for a studio, $1,270 for one bedroom, $1,625 for two, $2,260 for three and $2,726 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Butte County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.2% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 101.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Butte County, CA?
To keep a $1,625 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $65,000 a year, or $5,417 a month. That is 96% of what the typical household in Butte County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Butte County, CA?
On the local median income of $67,928 ($5,661 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,830 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,698 for everything else and $1,132 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,625 takes 57% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Butte County, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.