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Butte County

CA · Pop. 209,470 · Mixed County

32/100Homestead Score

Butte County is a mixed rural-suburban county in California, spanning 1,636 square miles with 209,470 residents at a density of 128 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on rice, hay, haylage. A median home price of $409,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.69% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 300-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.6°F and average winter lows of 40°F. Annual rainfall averages 58.1 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Oroville Hospital is 11.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.69%
Growing Season: 300 days
Broadband: 95.8%
Density: 128/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 300-day growing season in USDA zone 9b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.69% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Oroville Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 11.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on rice, hay, haylage means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • A median home price of $409,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
  • A poverty rate of 18.3% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.

At a glance

Butte County, CA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.

Homestead score
32/100
Median home price
$409k
Property tax
0.69%
Growing season
300 days (zone 9b)
Annual rainfall
58.1"
Broadband
95.8%
Nearest hospital
Oroville Hospital, 11.5 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.69%
Median Household Income$68,574
Poverty Rate18.3%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$409K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone9b
Growing Season300 days
Annual Rainfall58.1 inches
Avg Summer High88.6°F
Avg Winter Low40°F
Top CropsRice, Hay, Haylage

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought10/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado3/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalOroville Hospital (11.5 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities7

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage95.8%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate6.2%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Butte County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Butte County?
Butte County is in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 300-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.6°F, and average winter lows of 40°F. The established crops are rice, hay, haylage.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $409,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.69%. County-level per-acre prices aren't published, so compare current local listings for raw land.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 95.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Oroville Hospital is 11.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 7 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.