Ruth, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Ruth, North Carolina - Basic Facts

The Town of Ruth had a population of 352 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for Ruth is located at latitude 35.3821 and longitude -81.9471 in Rutherford County. The formal boundaries for the Town of Ruth encompass a land area of 0.42 sq. miles and a water area of 0 sq. miles. Rutherford County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

The Town of Ruth has a C1 Census Class Code which indicates an active incorporated place that does not serve as a county subdivision equivalent. It also has a Functional Status Code of "A" which identifies an active government providing primary general-purpose functions.

The Town of Ruth is located within Township of Rutherfordton, a minor civil division (MCD) of Rutherford County.

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Ruth, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION
Total Population	352 (100%)
Population in Households	352 (100.0%)
Population in Families	274 (77.8%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	0
Population Density	830
Diversity Index²	45


INCOME
Median Household Income	$52,900
Average Household Income	$64,752
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	29%
Per Capita Income	$25,754
Wealth Index⁵	43
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Low (43.4)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	160 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	101 (63.1%)
Renter Occupied HU	39 (24.4%)
Vacant Housing Units	20 (12.5%)
Median Home Value	$242,500
Average Home Value	$280,743
Housing Affordability Index³	84

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	140
Average Household Size	2.51
Family Households	91
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

160 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

101 (63.1%)

Renter Occupied HU

39 (24.4%)

Vacant Housing Units

20 (12.5%)

Median Home Value

$242,500

Average Home Value

$280,743

Housing Affordability Index³

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

140

Average Household Size

2.51

Family Households

Average Family Size

3.00

NOTES

Group Quarters - a place where people live or stay in a group living arrangement. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to 100 that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. An area's diversity index increases to 100 when the population is evenly divided into two or more race/ethnic groups.
The Housing Affordability Index base is 100 and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home. Values above 100 indicate increased affordability, while values below 100 indicate decreased affordability.
The % of Income for Mortgage quantifies the percentage of median household income dedicated to mortgage payments on a home priced at the median value (assuming a 30-year mortgage and a 20% down payment).
The Wealth Index is based on a number of indicators of affluence including average household income and average net worth, but it also includes the value of material possessions and resources. It represents the wealth of the area relative to the national level. Values above or below 100 represent above-average wealth or below-average wealth compared to the national level.
The Socioeconomic Index ranges from zero (lowest relative status) to 100 (highest relative status). This measure quantifies disparities in social position of an area's inhabitants and is built from a broad range of demographic, housing, and socioeconomic inputs. More information on this measure can be found in Esri's SEI tutorial.

GROWTH RATE / YEAR	2020-2025	2025-2030
Population	0.27%	-0.23%
Households	-0.14%	0.00%
Families		-0.44%
Median Household Income		1.48%
Per Capita Income		1.40%
Owner Occupied HU		0.39%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

0.27%

-0.23%

Households

-0.14%

0.00%

Families

-0.44%

Median Household Income

1.48%

Per Capita Income

1.40%

Owner Occupied HU

0.39%

Ruth, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Ruth to the other 776 incorporated cities, towns and CDPs in North Carolina by rank and percentile using July 1, 2025 data. The location Ranked # 1 has the highest value. A location that ranks higher than 75% of its peers would be in the 75th percentile of the peer group.

Variable Description	Rank	Percentile
Total Population	# 634	19th
Population Density	# 294	62nd
Median Household Income	# 526	32nd
Housing Affordability Index	# 301	39th
Per Capita Income	# 622	20th
Diversity Index	# 496	36th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 634

19th

Population Density

# 294

62nd

Median Household Income

# 526

32nd

Housing Affordability Index

# 301

39th

Per Capita Income

# 622

20th

Diversity Index

# 496

36th

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Ruth, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Ruth, North Carolina - Basic Facts

Ruth, NC Data & Demographics (As of July 1, 2025)

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Ruth, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

Ruth, NC - Most Popular Things to Do

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Rutherford County