United States › North Carolina › Ruth CITY
Ruth North Carolina · 345 residents (2025 est.) · 0.42 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 510 people, Ruth is a city in North Carolina. The poverty rate is 35.7%, above the 12.5% national rate. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 14% of adults. The population has risen by half since 2000, adding 181 people. The typical home is worth $138,300, having more than doubled since 2000. This skews young, with a median age of 35.0.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 329 in 2000
345 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,203 / sq mi
+18%since 2009
from 1,021 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
300 387 475 563 650 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Ruth Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $51,250
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,083 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,402 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.417 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.5%
Education & health services 1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
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$138,300
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $62,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$675
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 77.4% in 2000
24.7% rent
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.52 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 78.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 91.5%(301)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 84.9%(433)
Hispanic / Latino 8.6%(44)
from 36 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 2 more ancestry groups with data from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 58.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 85.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 63.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 53.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 6.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 16.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 25.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 98.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 90.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 25.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 15.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 21.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 34.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.1% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 50.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 52.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 25%(5)
Share of the 20 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Ruth, North Carolina? Ruth, North Carolina has about 510 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Ruth, North Carolina? The typical household in Ruth, North Carolina earns about $51,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Ruth, North Carolina expensive? In Ruth, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $138,300, and the typical rent is about $675 a month.
How educated are people in Ruth, North Carolina? About 14.3% of adults age 25 and over in Ruth, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Ruth, North Carolina? About 35.7% of people in Ruth, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Ruth, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Ruth, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 94 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.
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