Lake Holt, 2008
Butner’s story
78 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,538 in 1970, 8,397 in 2020. The archive holds 4 old photos and papers going back to 2008 and 3 maps from 1977 on.
- 1948Butner is settled
ButnerNC
A town of 8,112, settled in 1948.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: EbonyEaton · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
8,112
2025 Census estimate · +2% since 2020
Typical home
$263K
−3% in a year
Household income
$75K
median
Median age
40.3
years
Jobs based here
4,042
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#228 of 286 in NC
Is Butner a good place to live?
Butner grades D overall, 228th of 286 graded towns in North Carolina, mostly because of health. Residents are less healthy than 78% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. What it does well: 41% of its land is conserved. 41% of the land in Butner is conserved, above both North Carolina’s towns (3.4%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 11 of North Carolina’s 451 towns score lower on history. Butner's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 90% of U.S. towns.
What makes Butner stand out
Where Butner beats most towns.
A growing town
Butner has grown 13% since 2010
7,591 counted in 2010 and 8,397 in 2020; an estimated 8,112 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Butner grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Butner is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 6 of 20; 3.7% of households have no car; 0.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →HealthDuke Regional Hospital 11 miles awayC−Open →SchoolsCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 35% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →SafetyC+Open →Jobs & income$75K median household incomeC+Open →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trailA−Open →HistoryD−Open →Civic life2.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Butner: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Butner, and how to reach them.
PowerMecklenburg Electric Cooperative13.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSouth Granville Wtr&sewer AuthorityNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Butner’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereGranville County Board of ElectionsGranville County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP codes27509, 2752227509 56% · 27522 44%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Butner.
Butner keeps more of its land conserved than most of North Carolina, has added half again as many jobs in ten years and has milder winter nights than most of the country, though not than most of North Carolina.
OutdoorsA−
Butner has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
Its 3,616 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 98% of North Carolina towns.
1.0 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land, at 599 acres. At 0.1 miles per square mile, Butner’s trail density is near the North Carolina town median (0.2) and below the median of U.S. towns (0.4).
#171for trails in NC
41.1%
conserved · 3,616 of 8,803 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land | — | 599 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Butner’s public schools trail 73% of North Carolina districts
Three of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Falls Lake Academy, with 1,105 students.
27%of NC districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butner-Stem ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 476 | C− |
| Falls Lake AcademyLargest public high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 1,105 | A− |
| Granville Early College HighTop results in townGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 207 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
HealthC−
Butner’s grade for health is a C−
25% of adults worry about having enough food in Butner. Butner beats the North Carolina average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 17% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance in Butner.
22%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Butner | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 15% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 10% | 8.1% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 19% | 19% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 33% | 33% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
1 better16 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Butner | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 25.4% | 13.9% |
Duke Regional Hospital
11 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
22nd
percentile among NC towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Butner, expect mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 28.1°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 85% of North Carolina places with climate records; July afternoons average 89.9°.
Butner has mild winters and warm summers. The July high in Butner is 90°F. About 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.
2″snow a winter
| Butner | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 90°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 28°F | 31°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–53°
Spring46–71°
Summer66–88°
Fall48–72°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B−
Homes in Butner are worth about $263K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Butner home is worth about $263,000, down 3% in a year, 21% below the North Carolina typical home. Butner’s median rent is $1,307 a month.
$263KZillow home value
| Butner | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,307 a month | $1,084 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 74% | 67% | 73% |
Typical home value
Butner$263K
North Carolina$332K
−3%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Butner
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 65% of U.S. communities.
35risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyC+
More crime per resident in Butner than in 63% of U.S. towns
Within North Carolina, it does better than 73% of towns.
37%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
| Butner | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.8 per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 12.6 per 1,000 residents | 21.8 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Butner3.8
North Carolina3.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Butner12.6
North Carolina18.1
U.S.15.5
37th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
73rd
percentile among NC towns
31
violent crimes reported in 2025
103
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
A job hub: Butner has 1.4 jobs for every working resident and draws in 3,885 commuters
Jobs based here grew from 2,058 in 2013 to 4,042.
Most working residents leave Butner for work: only 6% work in town. Jobs based in Butner grew to 4,042 in 2023, 1,984 more than in 2013. 15% of Butner residents live below the poverty line.
6%work in town
| Butner | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 13% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.6% | 6.8% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Butner6%
Durham24%
Raleigh16%
Charlotte3%
Oxford3%
18 mi
median commute distance
4,042
jobs based in Butner
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 21% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
An age mix much like North Carolina’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the North Carolina average. Butner has grown 2% since 2020, to 8,112 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 27% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 36% across North Carolina.
40.3median age · NC 39.1
| Butner | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 18% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 27% | 29% | 29% |
ButnerNorth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma21%
High school26%
Some college19%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate6%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across North Carolina, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Butner | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.5% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.4% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.7% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.5% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.1% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.7% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.2% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.3% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.5% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 20.9% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 26.1% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 19% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 5.9% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Nearby attractions
All 34 attractions →Lenovo Center and 24 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Butner. Close and well known come first.
23 mi Stadium & arenaLenovo Center
23 mi Stadium & arenaCarter–Finley Stadium
23 mi Stadium & arenaKenan Memorial Stadium
15 mi LandmarkBennett Place State Historic Site
24 mi Stadium & arenaWakeMed Soccer Park
24 mi Stadium & arenaDean Smith CenterSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lenovo Center: Edward T. Funkhouser, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Carter–Finley Stadium: SMaloney, CC BY 3.0 · Kenan Memorial Stadium: Yeungb, CC BY 3.0 · Bennett Place State Historic Site: Ildar Sagdejev (Specious), CC BY-SA 4.0 · WakeMed Soccer Park: Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dean Smith Center: No machine-readable author provided. Snargle~commonswiki assumed (based on copyr, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Butner
19pages on Butner
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 73% of NC districts · 4 schoolsSafetyC+3.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than NC on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$263K typical home · down 3% in a yearWork & commuteC+$75K median household income · 4,042 jobs hereNatural hazardsBFEMA risk higher than 35% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Butner
Watts College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Durham13.4 miDurham Technical Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Durham13.5 mi$1,986 in-state tuitionNorth Carolina Central UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Durham14.1 mi$6,699 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Butner residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
About Butner
Town in North Carolina, United States
Butner is a town in Granville County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,397 as of the 2020 census. Butner was managed by the state of North Carolina from 1947 through 2007.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 14 sq mi
- Elevation
- 371 ft
- ZIP code
- 27509
- Area code
- 919
Butner’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Butner.
CreedmoorButner
How the neighbors grade
Questions about Butner
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Butner, NC a good place to live?
Butner grades D overall, better than 11% of U.S. towns and #228 of 286 in North Carolina. It grades C− for health, C+ for safety and C for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Butner, NC safe?
Within North Carolina, it does better than 73% of towns.
Is Butner, NC expensive?
That is 3.7 years of the area's median household income ($71,111 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.