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Rutherfordton, NC

Town in Rutherford County, North Carolina.

Population

3,680

Land area

4.1sq mi

People per sq mi

887

ZIP codes

0

Rutherfordton and its ZIP codes

Full map

Rutherfordton at a glance

  • Rutherfordton is about 4 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $59,375 a year, 18% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $288,400 and median rent is $860 a month.

Local data for Rutherfordton, NC

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Rutherfordton, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$59,375

Poverty rate

12.7%

Median home value

$288,400

Median rent

$860/mo

Homeownership

64.3%

Bachelor's or higher

35.0%

Median age

38.9

Average commute

22.3 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (378), German Americans (378), Mexican Americans (289).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Rutherford County. PPP loans are for Rutherfordton.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.1%

Aug 2026, -0.9 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

Rutherford County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Rutherfordton, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone75.6%
  • Carpooled13.9%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
  • Worked from home10.5%

Average one-way commute: 22.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Rutherfordton, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: strong wind

Storm events since 1996

601

Countywide, mostly 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 zone5 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Rutherfordton, NC, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

39.2%

U.S. 33.3% +5.9 pts

Diabetes

15.4%

U.S. 12.1% +3.3 pts

Smoking

18.1%

U.S. 12.8% +5.3 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

11.4%

U.S. 11.1% about the same

Cities near Rutherfordton

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
RuthTown1.2 mi0.4
SpindaleTown1.8 mi5.4
Forest CityTown5.5 mi8.6
BosticTown6.7 mi0.9
CaroleenCensus-designated place11 mi1.1
EllenboroTown11 mi1.3
HenriettaCensus-designated place12 mi0.6
CliffsideCensus-designated place14 mi2.3
MooresboroTown15 mi1.8
Lake LureTown16 mi13.2
ColumbusTown16 mi3.8
Fingerville, SCCensus-designated place16 mi0.2
Chesnee, SCCity16 mi1.1
LattimoreTown17 mi1
GlenwoodCensus-designated place17 mi1.6
PolkvilleCity18 mi1.9

Frequently asked questions

What county is Rutherfordton, NC in?
Rutherfordton is in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
What is the population of Rutherfordton, NC?
About 3,680 people live in Rutherfordton, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Rutherfordton?
Nearby places include Ruth (1.2 mi), Spindale (1.8 mi), Forest City (5.5 mi), Bostic (6.7 mi), Caroleen (11 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023