Ruth

Population: 526
Median household income: $48,125
Median home value: $122,000

Ruth, a community in Rutherford County, North Carolina, has 526 residents. The median household income of $48,125 is in line with the Rutherford County median ($49,771).

From 2019 to 2023, Ruth's population declined 10.2% from 586 to 526, while its median home value fell 8.5% from $133,300 to $122,000.

The typical home was built around 1980. 29.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 526
Median age: 41.6 yrs
Median household income: $48,125
Median home value: $122,000
Median gross rent: $707
Housing units: 243
Homeownership rate: 76.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.6%
Unemployment rate: 3.9%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

586526

Median household income

$42,727$48,125

Median home value

$133,300$122,000

Median gross rent

$613$707

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	586	$42,727	$133,300	$613
2020	629	$38,750	$113,100	$628
2021	525	$45,682	$115,400	$542
2022	621	$56,875	$119,800	$683
2023	526	$48,125	$122,000	$707

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 53.8%

5 to 1718.1%

18 to 246.8%

25 to 3415.2%

35 to 448.0%

45 to 5417.5%

55 to 6413.9%

65 to 7412.7%

75 and over4.0%

	Count	Share
Under 5	20	3.8%
5 to 17	95	18.1%
18 to 24	36	6.8%
25 to 34	80	15.2%
35 to 44	42	8.0%
45 to 54	92	17.5%
55 to 64	73	13.9%
65 to 74	67	12.7%
75 and over	21	4.0%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	434	82.5%
Black or African American	5	1.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	1	0.2%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	30	5.7%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	56	10.6%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma17.1%

High school graduate32.0%

Some college or associate's37.3%

Bachelor's degree9.9%

Graduate or professional degree3.7%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	64	17.1%
High school graduate	120	32.0%
Some college or associate's	140	37.3%
Bachelor's degree	37	9.9%
Graduate or professional degree	14	3.7%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 23 min

Drove alone93.0%

Carpooled3.8%

Public transit0.0%

Walked2.2%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home1.1%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	173	93.0%
Carpooled	7	3.8%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	4	2.2%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	2	1.1%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	87	47.3%
15 to 29 min	40	21.7%
30 to 44 min	26	14.1%
45 to 59 min	15	8.2%
60+ min	16	8.7%

Households

Average household size: 2.47
Poverty rate: 29.4% (154 of 523)

	Count	Share
Family households	153	71.8%
Nonfamily households	60	28.2%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1980

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	213	87.7%
Vacant	30	12.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	162	76.1%
Renter-occupied	51	23.9%

1-unit, detached62.1%

1-unit, attached4.9%

2 to 4 units0.0%

5 to 19 units0.0%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other32.9%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	151	62.1%
1-unit, attached	12	4.9%
2 to 4 units	0	0.0%
5 to 19 units	0	0.0%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	80	32.9%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3758420
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 0.42 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 35.3824, -81.9448