CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

28.50° N · 81.55° W · GEOID 1237648

Lake Butler

Orange County, Florida · part of the Orlando, FL metro

FloridaLake Butler, FLLake ButlerLake Butler

The short answer

Lake Butler is home to 17,125 people. Median household income is $182,500 a year and median rent is $2,487 a month, 16.4% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $930,500, about 5.1x annual median household income.

What sets Lake Butler apart is how far household money goes. After the median rent, with other prices set to the US average, the median household keeps about $157,500 a year, more than in 96% of places its size. It is the 2nd-highest of 458 Florida places we track. Also notable: Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 98 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

79OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Strong

Lake Butler scores better than 79% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 18th of 474 in Florida.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%53
Economy 20%95
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%26
Education 10%91
Commute 10%34
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$2,487
82% above the median place
Median household income
$182,500
127% above the median place
Median home value
$930,500
191% above the median place
Unemployment
2.7%
45% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Lake Butler

  • HousingOwning with a mortgage costs about $1,441 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 94% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
  • HousingHalf the homes were built after 2003, newer housing than in 92% of the 2,300 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Lake Butler

Orange County loses about 7.9 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in85,541
Moved out94,578
Net−9,037

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Seminole County, FL9,99512,453−2,458
Osceola County, FL9,31713,131−3,814
Lake County, FL3,5598,287−4,728
Polk County, FL3,8427,567−3,725
Volusia County, FL1,7943,469−1,675
Miami-Dade County, FL3,3621,524+1,838
Brevard County, FL1,7852,345−560

Within Florida, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within FloridaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$66K
Leavers$61K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Orange County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.8% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Orange County report $66,500 a year in income on average; those leaving, $61,300, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$99,500 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $2,487 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $3,928 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $930,500.
Getting to work
28 minutes each way on average; 23.1% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Trophy Club, TX matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
5.8%
1% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
-7.9
below the median place (median -0.6)
Income of households moving out7
$61,323
13% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureLake ButlerAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year15.8%1% above
Moved from another state1County figure2.6%33% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-7.9below (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$66,4576% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$61,32313% below
02

What it costs to live here

High pay has not made renting easy. Household income is higher than in 96% of places we track, yet 66% of renters still spend 30% or more of income on rent.

Lake Butler16.4%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$99,480
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
16.4%
20% below the median place
Home price to income
5.1x
34% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
16%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$158,000
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Lake Butler, $2,487 a month, and local prices for everything else (96.9 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Lake Butler, but easier on the budget

Places that match Lake Butler on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Trophy Club, TX9211.9% vs 16.4%$19,500Compare
Bellaire, TX9113.1% vs 16.4%$60,100Compare
Scenic Oaks, TX8812.6% vs 16.4%$3,900Compare
Weddington, NC8312.1% vs 16.4%$14,800Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Lake Butler.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Lake Butler? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$3,928
110% above the median place
Median home value1
$930,500
191% above the median place
Renters paying 30%+1
66.4%
31% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureLake ButlerAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$2,48782% above
Rent to income116.4%20% below
Property tax rate10.9%3% below
Home price to income15.1x34% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure101.41% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,95921% above
HUD area median income4County figure$97,6009% below
Property tax paid (median)1$8,220152% above
Median home value1$930,500191% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure0.8%75% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure56.3%9% above
Homeownership186.9%31% above
Renters paying 30%+166.4%31% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$3,928110% above
Vacant homes111.2%58% above
Median year built120031% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Income per person1
$98,964
147% above the median place
Median household income1
$182,500
127% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate3.7% −65%
Unemployment2.7% −45%
Works from home23.1% +85%
Mean commute28 min +12%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureLake ButlerAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$182,500127% above
Income per person1$98,964147% above
Unemployment12.7%45% below
Average annual pay6County figure$70,5997% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.1%11% above
Jobs6County figure954,330above (median 150,665)
Poverty rate13.7%65% below
Mean commute128 min12% above
Works from home123.1%85% above
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 99.7%, 8% above the median place.

Homes with broadband1
99.7%
8% above the median place
High school or higher1
97.9%
6% above the median place
Bachelor's or higher1
64.2%
100% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Born abroad21.0% 2.4×
Household size2.9 +14%
Median age43.0 +10%
No health insurance4.2% −34%
All 8 people measures
MeasureLake ButlerAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population117,1252672nd largest
Median age143.010% above
Bachelor's or higher164.2%100% above
High school or higher197.9%6% above
Household size12.914% above
Born abroad121.0%138% above
No health insurance14.2%34% below
Homes with broadband199.7%8% above
05

Life in Lake Butler

The nearest National Park Service site is Canaveral National Seashore, about 51 miles away.

58 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, one of them a National Historic Landmark.

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents9.3 −8%
Playgrounds per 10k9.3 −1%
Grocery stores per 10k1.8 −17%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k2.9 −74%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.3 +29%

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Canaveral National Seashore 51 miles
  • Fort Matanzas National Monument 87 miles
  • De Soto National Memorial 94 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars24.4 +17%
Shops35.1 +16%
Arts, recreation and fitness6.9 +68%
Doctors' offices and clinics23.9 +18%
Child care centers2.4 +4%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
50.5
64% above the median place
Public school students12
216,343
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools12
278
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureLake ButlerAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure278above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure216,343above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure18.319% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure24.417% above
Shops per 10k8County figure35.116% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure6.968% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure23.918% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.44% above
Parks per 10k99.38% below
Playgrounds per 10k99.31% below
Grocery stores per 10k91.817% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k92.974% below
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi90.329% above
Nearest National Park Service site1050.564% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10150% below
National Register listings11County figure58346% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

January average low is 49°F, 96% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Lake Butler. Larger places are fetched first.

January average low13
49°F
96% above the median place
Average temperature13
73°F
33% above the median place
Tornado risk14
99.1
22% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasureLake ButlerAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure92°F6% above
January average low13County figure49°F96% above
Average temperature13County figure73°F33% above
Annual precipitation13County figure51.1 in17% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure98.46% above
Hurricane risk14County figure98.039% above
Tornado risk14County figure99.122% above
Wildfire risk14County figure97.459% above
Heat wave risk14County figure94.14% above
Median air quality index15County figure430% above
Good air days15County figure72.9%6% above
08

Lake Butler in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 16% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 16% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Lake Butler does better than 54% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 44%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$2,487/mo (2024)$3,180/mo$2,610 to $3,880/mo+4.2%
Median household income$182,500 (2024)$235,000$198,500 to $278,000+4.3%
Median home value$930,500 (2024)$1,329,000$964,000 to $1,830,000+6.1%

The median home would be worth 5.7 years of the median income in 2030, against 5.1 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Lake Butler

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Lynnfield, MA$2,676$175,265Compare
Summit, NJ$2,430$190,304Compare
Jericho, NY$2,661$167,935Compare
Sea Cliff, NY$2,315$193,590Compare
Sea Cliff, NYJericho, NYSummit, NJLynnfield, MALake Butler, FLLake ButlerLynnfieldSummitJerichoLake ButlerLynnfieldSummit

Places built like Lake Butler

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Lake Butler performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Lake Butler, FL16.4%7.2%/yrn/a
Mitchellville, MD19.7%3.5%/yrn/aCompare
Gainesville, VA15.7%4.3%/yrn/aCompare
Glenn Dale, MD15.2%0.7%/yrn/aCompare
Five Forks, SC18.4%4.4%/yrn/aCompare
Harrisburg, NC21.4%6.4%/yr9.1%Compare
Stallings, NC19.5%6.4%/yr10.2%Compare

Common questions

Is Lake Butler a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 79 out of 100, better than 79% of the places we rate and 18th of 474 in Florida. Owning with a mortgage costs about $1,441 a month more than the median rent, a wider gap than in 94% of the 2,298 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. Half the homes were built after 2003, newer housing than in 92% of the 2,300 places of 10,000 to 25,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 92 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Lake Butler expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 16.4% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $930,500.

What salary do you need to live in Lake Butler?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $99,480 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Lake Butler?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Lynnfield, MA, Summit, NJ, Jericho, NY and Sea Cliff, NY.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Lake Butler with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Lake Butler itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/lake-butler-orange-county-florida

Citytistics. “Lake Butler, Florida.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/lake-butler-orange-county-florida/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.