Is Butler County, AL good for real estate investing?

Butler County has an investment score of 58/100, rated as "Hold". The county ranks #426 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the median home price in Butler?

The median home price in Butler County is $117,223. This ranks #67 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Butler?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Butler County would generate positive cash flow of $0/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Butler County

AlabamaPopulation: 18,981

/100

Hold

#426 of 1,000 counties

#35 in Alabama (67 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated July 28, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$117,223

Median Home Price

49% below national median

$7,083/mo

Est. Rent

Based on regional data

6.04%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Estimated from price data

+$0

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

58/100

Cash Flow(30%)

0/100

Rent data not available for cash flow calculation.

Appreciation(25%)

31/100

Based on -3.7% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

100/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Affordable relative to local incomes

Challenges

-Declining home values (-3.7% YoY)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 0.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
-Limited rent data (estimates used)

Economic Indicators

Population

18,981

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Skip if

−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
−You expect appreciation to carry the deal, but prices have declined year over year

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
ShelbyAL	59	$350,870	$1,667	5.70%	Hold	View
LeeAL	59	$335,931	$1,609	5.75%	Hold	View
CurrentButlerAL	58	$117,223	Est. pending	—	Hold
LauderdaleAL	58	$212,925	$1,160	6.53%	Hold	View
MorganAL	58	$227,394	$1,071	5.65%	Hold	View
LawrenceAL	58	$218,691	Est. pending	—	Hold	View

Section 8 in Butler County: payment standards by ZIP, PHA waitlist status, and voucher counts are on VoucherMatch, the same HUD dataset with the tenant demand side attached.

The Bottom Line

HoldButler is a neutral market.

Butler County in Alabama scores 58/100, ranking #426 of 1,000 US counties (top 54%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow. The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow

+$0/mo

Cap Rate

0.0%

Cash-on-Cash

0.0%

Related markets

Markets like Butler with stronger cash flow

Head-to-head comparisons

All counties in Alabama →

Rent vs buy in Alabama cities

Rent vs buy in Birmingham, ALMedian $208,520 · rent $1,292/mo Rent vs buy in Mobile, ALMedian $191,438 · rent $1,258/mo Rent vs buy in Huntsville, ALMedian $305,199 · rent $1,379/mo All Alabama citiesFull rent-vs-buy directory for the state

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