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Rutherford County, NC
11 cities and towns and 12 ZIP codes in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Population
64,930
Land area
565sq mi
People per sq mi
115
ZIP codes
12
Cities and towns in Rutherford County
Rutherford County at a glance
- Rutherford County is 48% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- The median household income is $51,410, 29% below the North Carolina median of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $201,800 (30% below North Carolina) and median rent is $783 a month.
- Its largest cities are Forest City (7,363), Spindale (4,131) and Rutherfordton (3,680).
Local data for Rutherford County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes5
- Schools23
- Colleges1
- Libraries3
- Banks10
- Post Offices12
- Parks25
- Grocery Stores19
- Restaurants156
- Affordable Housing9
- Home Health Agencies1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers6
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools3
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities6
- Historic Places15
Housing and community stats
Rutherford County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$51,410
Poverty rate
16.8%
Median home value
$201,800
Prices +3.4% in a year
Median rent
$783/mo
Homeownership
73.9%
Bachelor's or higher
21.5%
Median age
45.3
Average commute
26.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (6,956), German Americans (6,376), Mexican Americans (2,227).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Sep 2026, -0.8 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,049
18,151 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$47,500
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$651M
FY 2026, $10,100 per person
PPP loans
$59.4M
900 loans, 8,337 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$136K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Rutherford County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.7%
- Carpooled8.9%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked1.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.3%
- Worked from home8.6%
Average one-way commute: 26.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rutherford County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
601
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
102
0.4% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 27°F
52.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone15 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rutherford County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.1%
U.S. 33.3% +4.8 pts
Diabetes
14.4%
U.S. 12.1% +2.3 pts
Smoking
17.3%
U.S. 12.8% +4.5 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
11.2%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rutherford County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Rutherford County, NC?
- Forest City is the largest city or town in Rutherford County, with about 7,363 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Rutherford County?
- Rutherford County includes 12 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28018, 28019, 28024, 28040, 28043.
- What is the population of Rutherford County, NC?
- About 64,930 people live in Rutherford County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Rutherford County?
- Rutherford County borders Spartanburg County, SC, Buncombe County, Henderson County, Cleveland County, Burke County, Cherokee County, SC, McDowell County, Polk County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023