Rutherfordton, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Rutherfordton, North Carolina - Basic Facts

The Town of Rutherfordton had a population of 3,912 as of July 1, 2025.

The primary coordinate point for Rutherfordton is located at latitude 35.3693 and longitude -81.9568 in Rutherford County. The formal boundaries for the Town of Rutherfordton encompass a land area of 4.12 sq. miles and a water area of 0 sq. miles. Rutherford County is in the Eastern time zone (GMT -5).

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

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

POPULATION
Total Population	3,912 (100%)
Population in Households	3,761 (96.1%)
Population in Families	2,840 (72.6%)
Population in Group Quarters¹	151 ( 3.9%)
Population Density	943
Diversity Index²	44


INCOME
Median Household Income	$48,258
Average Household Income	$78,008
% of Income for Mortgage⁴	30%
Per Capita Income	$32,239
Wealth Index⁵	69
Socioeconomic Status Index⁶	Low (43.5)

HOUSING
Total HU (Housing Units)	1,857 (100%)
Owner Occupied HU	995 (53.6%)
Renter Occupied HU	619 (33.3%)
Vacant Housing Units	243 (13.1%)
Median Home Value	$232,176
Average Home Value	$295,543
Housing Affordability Index³	80

HOUSEHOLDS
Total Households	1,614
Average Household Size	2.33
Family Households	931
Average Family Size	3.00

HOUSING

Total HU (Housing Units)

1,857 (100%)

Owner Occupied HU

995 (53.6%)

Renter Occupied HU

619 (33.3%)

Vacant Housing Units

243 (13.1%)

Median Home Value

$232,176

Average Home Value

$295,543

Housing Affordability Index³

HOUSEHOLDS

Total Households

1,614

Average Household Size

2.33

Family Households

931

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	1.38%	0.11%
Households	0.33%	0.16%
Families		-0.26%
Median Household Income		1.97%
Per Capita Income		1.67%
Owner Occupied HU		0.85%

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

2020-2025

2025-2030

Population

1.38%

0.11%

Households

0.33%

0.16%

Families

-0.26%

Median Household Income

1.97%

Per Capita Income

1.67%

Owner Occupied HU

0.85%

Rutherfordton, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

The table below compares Rutherfordton 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	# 211	73rd
Population Density	# 245	69th
Median Household Income	# 585	25th
Housing Affordability Index	# 253	33rd
Per Capita Income	# 426	45th
Diversity Index	# 516	34th

Variable Description

Rank

Percentile

Total Population

# 211

73rd

Population Density

# 245

69th

Median Household Income

# 585

25th

Housing Affordability Index

# 253

33rd

Per Capita Income

# 426

45th

Diversity Index

# 516

34th

North Carolina Census Data Comparison Tool

Rutherfordton, NC Profile: Facts & Data

Rutherfordton, North Carolina - Basic Facts

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

POPULATION

INCOME

HOUSING

HOUSEHOLDS

GROWTH RATE / YEAR

Rutherfordton, NC - Peer Comparisons by Rank and Percentile

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