Are you visiting Greater Cincinnati or thinking about moving to the area? Butler County, Ohio is home to some of Cincinnati’s best suburbs, gorgeous parks and outdoor recreation, and excellent shopping, not to mention many of the best school districts in Greater Cincinnati.
A great way to learn more about the area is to explore the largest townships and cities in Butler County, Ohio by population. This guide covers the county’s major cities and townships, which are subdivisions of counties in Ohio and a form of local government that perform many services like parks and recreation, police protection, and road maintenance.
Table of Contents
About Butler County Ohio
Butler County is part of the tristate Greater Cincinnati metro area. It’s 7th among counties in Ohio by population after Franklin (Columbus), Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Hamilton (Cincinnati), Summit (Akron), Montgomery (Dayton), and Lucas (Toledo).
The county was founded in 1803 and named for Revolutionary War General Richard Butler who died in St. Clair’s defeat, the most decisive defeat in American military history.
There are seven cities in Butler County, Ohio as well as five villages, eight census-designated places (CDPs), and 20 unincorporated communities. There are 13 townships in Butler County, Ohio:
- Fairfield Township Ohio
- Hanover Township Ohio
- Lemon Township Ohio
- Liberty Township Ohio
- Madison Township Ohio
- Milford Township Ohio
- Morgan Township Ohio
- Oxford Township Ohio
- Reily Township Ohio
- Ross Township Ohio
- St. Clair Township Ohio
- Wayne Township Ohio
- West Chester Township Ohio
There are three paper townships after municipal annexation: Middletown, Hamilton, Heritage (Fairfield city).
Where is Butler County, Ohio? Butler County is located in southwest Ohio along the Great Miami and Little Miami rivers. It’s bordered by Hamilton County to the south (home to Cincinnati), Warren, Montgomery, and Preble counties, and Union, Franklin, and Dearborn counties in Indiana.
Butler County Demographics
- Butler County, Ohio population: 390,357
- Area: 466.5 sq mi
- Median age: 37.1
- Median household income: $68,584
- Median home price: $232,500
- Educational attainment: 92% high school grad or higher; 32% bachelor’s degree or higher
#1. West Chester Township
- Population: 64,830 (up 6.4% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 35.6 sq mi
- Median age: 39.3
- West Chester median household income: $92,109
- West Chester median home price: $325,000
- Educational attainment: 94% high school grad or higher; 51% bachelor’s degree or higher
- West Chester Township Ohio map
Located next to Liberty Township, Mason, and Sharonville, West Chester Township, Butler County, Ohio is the largest of Butler County municipalities. It surpassed Hamilton between 2010 and 2020. It’s not just the most populous of Butler County, Ohio townships – it’s the largest township in Ohio!
West Chester has been ranked one of the best places to live in the U.S. by Money magazine and it’s known for its family-friendly attractions, great schools, world-class parks, and excellent shopping and dining.
West Chester Township is home to Ikea, EnterTRAINment Junction, and the sprawling Keehner Park.
Learn more about living in West Chester, OH with our complete guide.
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#2. Hamilton
- Population: 63,399 (up 1.5% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 21.5 sq mi
- Median age: 36.6
- Median household income: $47,064
- Hamilton, OH median home price: $169,000
- Educational attainment: 87% high school grad or higher; 16% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Hamilton, OH map
Hamilton is the county seat and the largest of cities in Butler County, Ohio. Just 35 miles north of Cincinnati, it’s the second-largest city in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Hamilton, Ohio offers a great quality of life with 17 parks, including Crawford Woods and the Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, one of the top attractions in the region, and the Wake Nation water park.
Want to know more? Check out our complete guide to moving to Hamilton, OH!
#3. Middletown
- Population: 50,987 (up 4.7% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 26.1 sq mi
- Median age: 37.4
- Median household income: $40,347
- Middletown, OH median home price: $145,000
- Educational attainment: 85% high school grad or higher; 16% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Middletown, OH map
The second largest of Butler County cities, Middletown is 35 miles north of Cincinnati in Warren and Butler counties. It offers an ideal location midway between Cincinnati and Dayton for greater employment and recreation opportunities.
Middletown is a great place to raise a family thanks to its low cost of living and quality of life. It’s one of the most affordable cities in Butler County, OH to buy a home! Kids and adults alike appreciate attractions like the beautiful Smith Park, Skateway Middletown, Land of Illusion Adventure Park – a haunted house in fall and a water park in summer.
The city is known for the Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival held every July.
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#4. Fairfield
- Population: 44,907 (up 5.6% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 20.8 sq mi
- Median age: 37.7
- Fairfield median household income: $60,340
- Fairfield, OH median home price: $575,000
- Educational attainment: 90% high school grad or higher; 29% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Fairfield, OH map
The city of Fairfield is the third largest city in Butler County, Ohio and the fourth largest municipality. Located in Hamilton and Warren counties, it’s located on the Great Miami River about 25 miles north of Cincinnati.
Not to be confused with Fairfield Township, from which the city withdrew, the city is home to one of Ohio’s largest school districts and known for its beautiful scenery, recreation, and attractions.
Fairfield boasts more than 300 acres of outdoor entertainment, sports facilities, and recreation including the fun Waterworks Park and William Harbin Park for mountain biking, disc golf, and hiking, and the Fairfield Fun Center for mini golf.
Want to learn more? Read our complete guide to living in Fairfield, OH!
#5. Liberty Township
- Population: 43,999 (up 18.1% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 29.2 sq mi
- Median age: 38.3
- Median household income: $123,701
- Liberty Township median home price: $370,000
- Educational attainment: 96% high school grad or higher; 53% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Liberty Township Ohio map
Liberty Township, OH is the most affluent of all townships in Butler County, Ohio with a median household income of more than $123,000. It’s also the second most populous of townships in the county despite being the smallest.
Liberty Township is the second fastest growing of municipalities in Butler County, Ohio after the city of Monroe and southwest Ohio’s fastest growing area. Its population has climbed from 9,000 in 1990 to 22,000 in 2000 and it’s doubled again in twenty years.
Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio is one of the best places to live in Greater Cincinnati with one of the region’s best school districts, plentiful job opportunities, and excellent recreation. It’s home to Fort Liberty Playground, several golf courses and country clubs, a paintball center, and Liberty Center, one of the region’s top shopping and entertainment complexes.
#6. Oxford
- Population: 23,035 (up 7.8% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 7.5 sq mi
- Median age: 21.2
- Median household income: $31,546
- Oxford, OH median home price: $205,000
- Educational attainment: 94% high school grad or higher; 60% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Oxford, OH map
The city of Oxford is one of the top college towns in Greater Cincinnati. Home to Miami University, one of America’s oldest universities, Oxford has been rated as America’s Best College Town.
Oxford has a low rate of brain-drain which means it has one of the most educated populations in Butler County. It also has the youngest median age by far thanks to a student enrollment of 19,000 – the vast majority of the city’s population!
Along with the university, Oxford offers plenty to do including Yager Stadium, Goggin Ice Center, and the Oxford Community Park with an aquatic center and public pool.
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#7. Fairfield Township
- Population: 22,645 (up 6.0% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 15.8 sq mi
- Median age: 39.7
- Median household income: $84,735
- Fairfield Township median home price: $215,000
- Educational attainment: 94% high school grad or higher; 25% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Fairfield Township Ohio map
Once much larger before annexations by Fairfield and Hamilton cities, Fairfield Township is still one of the largest townships in Butler County, Ohio. Surrounded by the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton and Liberty, West Chester, Ross, New Miami, Madison, and St. Clair Township, Ohio, Fairfield offers a great quality of life as one of the more affluent areas of Butler County.
Fairfield Township is best known for the picturesque Rentschler Forest MetroPark with river views and playgrounds. The main commercial area with shopping is along the Butler County Veterans Highway (Route 129).
#8. Monroe
- Population: 15,412 (up 23.9% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 15.9 sq mi
- Median age: 35.6
- Median household income: $86,935
- Monroe, OH median home price: $287,000
- Educational attainment: 95% high school grad or higher; 32% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Monroe, OH map
Located in Warrant and east-central Butler counties, the city of Monroe is part of Lemon Township, Ohio. One of the smallest cities in Butler County, Monroe is an affluent community and the fastest growing Butler County, OH city. It’s best known for the Cincinnati Premium Outlets mall and Traders World Flea Market, the state’s largest vendor market with hundreds of indoor and outdoor vendors.
Learn more about what you’ll love about living in Monroe, OH with our complete guide!
#9. Trenton
- Population: 13,021 (up 9.7% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 4.6 sq mi
- Median age: 33.6
- Median household income: $77,739
- Trenton, OH median home price: $202,000
- Educational attainment: 92% high school grad or higher; 15% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Trenton, OH map
The city of Trenton is located next to Middletown in northeastern Butler County. This small, residential city has one of the rates of high school and college graduates in the county, yet it’s one of the youngest cities in the area with a median household income higher than the state average. Residents enjoy a low cost of living with fairly affordable housing, great parks, and regular community events.
#10. Ross Township
- Population: 8,751 (up 4.7% from 2010 to 2020)
- Area: 30.2 sq mi
- Median age: 37.1
- Median household income: $88,750
- Ross Township median home price: $264,000
- Educational attainment: 96% high school grad or higher; 35% bachelor’s degree or higher
- Ross Township Ohio map
Despite being one of the largest Butler County, OH municipalities, Ross Township has a population of less than 10,000. Most of the population lives in an unincorporated area of the township. Ross Township offers a more rural atmosphere and it’s a gateway to popular parks and entertainment in the area like the nearby Stricker’s Grove amusement park.
Cities & Townships in Butler County Ohio Map
Butler County Cities & Townships FAQs
How many townships are in Butler County, Ohio?
There are 13 Butler County, Ohio townships plus three paper townships.
What cities are in Butler County, Ohio?
There are seven Butler County cities: Fairfield, Hamilton, Middletown, Monroe, Oxford, Trenton, and Sharonville (mostly in Hamilton County).
What county is Liberty Township, Ohio in?
Liberty Township, Ohio is in Butler County, Ohio.
Where is Liberty Township Ohio?
Liberty Township, Butler County, Ohio is in southwest Ohio about 25 miles north of Cincinnati.
Are you considering moving to one of Butler County’s great cities or townships? Give us a call at Bell Moving & Storage to discuss your upcoming relocation and request a free, affordable moving quote!
