Rutherfordton

Population: 3,669
Median household income: $59,750
Median home value: $226,900

Rutherfordton is a community in Rutherford County, North Carolina, home to 3,669 residents. At $59,750, its median household income sits above Rutherford County's $49,771.

From 2019 to 2023, Rutherfordton's population declined 9.9% from 4,073 to 3,669, while its median home value rose 83.0% from $124,000 to $226,900.

Households average 2.40 people. The median gross rent is $901.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 3,669
Median age: 39.0 yrs
Median household income: $59,750
Median home value: $226,900
Median gross rent: $901
Housing units: 1,691
Homeownership rate: 65.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29.5%
Unemployment rate: 9.0%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

4,0733,669

Median household income

$47,175$59,750

Median home value

$124,000$226,900

Median gross rent

$783$901

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	4,073	$47,175	$124,000	$783
2020	4,071	$46,144	$158,100	$772
2021	3,668	$50,901	$177,300	$848
2022	3,671	$58,913	$193,400	$872
2023	3,669	$59,750	$226,900	$901

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

Age distribution

Under 56.3%

5 to 1715.9%

18 to 242.9%

25 to 3419.9%

35 to 4410.4%

45 to 544.6%

55 to 6414.6%

65 to 7412.3%

75 and over13.0%

	Count	Share
Under 5	232	6.3%
5 to 17	582	15.9%
18 to 24	108	2.9%
25 to 34	731	19.9%
35 to 44	382	10.4%
45 to 54	167	4.6%
55 to 64	537	14.6%
65 to 74	452	12.3%
75 and over	478	13.0%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	2,649	72.2%
Black or African American	344	9.4%
American Indian & Alaska Native	15	0.4%
Asian	41	1.1%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	8	0.2%
Two or more races	353	9.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	259	7.1%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma10.8%

High school graduate25.7%

Some college or associate's34.1%

Bachelor's degree24.1%

Graduate or professional degree5.4%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	296	10.8%
High school graduate	705	25.7%
Some college or associate's	936	34.1%
Bachelor's degree	663	24.1%
Graduate or professional degree	147	5.4%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 21 min

Drove alone74.0%

Carpooled17.5%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home3.8%

Other means4.7%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	1,022	74.0%
Carpooled	242	17.5%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	52	3.8%
Other means	65	4.7%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	606	45.6%
15 to 29 min	408	30.7%
30 to 44 min	188	14.1%
45 to 59 min	16	1.2%
60+ min	111	8.4%

Households

Average household size: 2.40
Poverty rate: 19.1% (660 of 3,459)

	Count	Share
Family households	858	59.7%
Nonfamily households	580	40.3%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1972

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	1,438	85.0%
Vacant	253	15.0%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	935	65.0%
Renter-occupied	503	35.0%

1-unit, detached78.7%

1-unit, attached5.1%

2 to 4 units8.8%

5 to 19 units2.8%

20 or more units3.0%

Mobile home & other1.5%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	1,331	78.7%
1-unit, attached	87	5.1%
2 to 4 units	149	8.8%
5 to 19 units	48	2.8%
20 or more units	51	3.0%
Mobile home & other	25	1.5%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3758460
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 4.15 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 35.3641, -81.9613