Moving to Butler County
Considering a move to the area? Read this first!
Dec 1
Written By Aryanna Bennett
Located in Western Pennsylvania, Butler County offers rural lifestyle, close to the city, with hidden gems in between. From charming towns to gorgeous scenery, there is something for everyone; whether you enjoy visiting local shops, hiking beautiful trails or relaxing by the beach.
Butler County is approximately 25 miles north of Pittsburgh, 107 miles from Erie and 325 miles from Philadelphia, There are roughly32 towns and cities within Butler County, with some local favorites being Butler, Harmony, Cranberry Township, Zelienople and Saxonburg. We are home to Slippery Rock University, Moraine State Park and multiple historical sites.
We have a bit of everything here, from cozy towns to woodland areas, farms and bustling urban districts. Are you looking to be close to the action or as far away as possible? Northern Butler County will offer small town quirks while Southern Butler County can give you big city dreams (with some back roads in between).
If you are considering moving to the area, here are some questions to ask yourself before you settle on a location:
Where do you plan on working? Butler County is a large area, most of it being rural. The metropolitan areas, such as Cranberry Township and the City of Butler will offer the most employment opportunities at the shortest driving distance, If you are not looking to change jobs, consider the route you will be taking daily and how that fits into your schedule before selecting the location for you.
How much property are you looking for? One of the benefits of living in a rural area is that it is much easier to find larger parcels of land in this County than some of the surrounding ones, such as Allegheny. It’s relatively easy to find 1 +/- acres almost anywhere in the county. Northern Butler County will typically give you more options for much larger pieces of property.
What is your price range? While this largely depends on the home you are purchasing and how much land comes with it, it is generally accepted that areas such as Cranberry Township, Zelienople, Harmony, Mars and Valencia are on the pricier end of most towns in Butler County.
Selecting the right place for you is a big decision. I encourage everyone I work with to drive through the area, drive their typical work route and visit local places to determine where they would like to end up. Another thing to consider is how well does your area retain property values? Purchasing a home at a great deal is always nice but it’s good to do you own research (or talk to your agent) to figure out how well your property will appreciate and hold value it’s over the years. On average, people sell their home within 5-7 years of purchasing, so when you do decide to purchase, remember that you are also making an investment on your future and the place you select could have a large impact on that.
Local Statistics
Population: 194,000
Households: 78,000
Median Household Income: $77,000
Median Home Value: $217,000 National Average: $230,000
Median Rent: $860.00/month National Average: $2000
Rent VS Own: 24% is renting, 76% owns their home
Top Employers in Butler County
Federal Government
Butler Healthcare Providers
Westinghouse Electric Co LLC
AK Steel Corporation
Walmart Associates
Seneca Valley School District
Butler Area School District
PA State System of Higher Education
Penn United Technologies Inc
FedEx Supply
Information gathered from the following sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, PA Department of Education, PA Department of Labor & Industry, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - https://pittsburghregion.org/the-region/butler-county/ - https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/butlercountypennsylvania/PST045221 -https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/c/butler-county-pa/real-estate/ - https://www.workstats.dli.pa.gov/Documents/Top%2050/Butler_County_Top_50.pdf