CensusEasy
CITY

Rutherford College

North Carolina · 1,220 residents (2025 est.) · 2.297 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Hickory metro area
Compare
The short version

Rutherford College has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $67,500. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $185,600.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% 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

Total population
1,374
+6%since 2000
from 1,293 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
598 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 563 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
41.2
+6%since 2000
from 39.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,220 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
1K1K1K1K1K1990201020202024Rutherford College
20241K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$67,500
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,579 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,728
+75%since 2000
from $18,148 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.8%
+25.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.371
−10%since 2010
from 0.410 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services10.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration10.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade9.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food3%
US avg: 1.9%
Wholesale trade2%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance0%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$185,600
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $86,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$853
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $394 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.6% in 2000
26.9% rent
Vacancy rate
14.1%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
4.3%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.4%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.7
+16%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
34
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rutherford College on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.5%(1,209)
Black0.4%(5)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(8)
Asian4.3%(55)
Other0%
Diversity Score12.7%(164)
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.6%(1,203)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino5%(69)
Asian4.4%(61)
Other3%(41)
Diversity Score28.5%(392)
Diversity Score
29
+124%since 2000
from 13 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.3%
+13.1 ptssince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.1%
+15.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+84%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
92.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2009
from 96.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
2.8%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
2.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.2%
−7.3 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2011
from 60.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
24.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.2%
−12.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 56.6% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−39.4 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2012
from 20.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.6%
−82.9 ptssince 2013
from 90.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.1%
+21.0 ptssince 2017
from 56.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2016
from 86.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Rutherford College

Kenwood Estates
Pop 1,263
North DeLand
Pop 1,102
Center Hill
Pop 1,081
Mexico Beach
Pop 1,275
Places similar to Rutherford College
Head to head

Compare Rutherford College to nearby cities

RUTHERFORD COLLEGE VS
Morganton
Income$51,355−24%
Home value$221,700+19%
Population17,849+1363%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORD COLLEGE VS
Lenoir
Income$49,910−26%
Home value$179,400−3%
Population18,372+1406%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORD COLLEGE VS
Hickory
Income$64,576−4%
Home value$278,400+50%
Population45,975+3668%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORD COLLEGE VS
St. Stephens
Income$60,394−11%
Home value$213,300+15%
Population9,457+675%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rutherford College, North Carolina?

Rutherford College, North Carolina has about 1,374 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rutherford College, North Carolina?

The typical household in Rutherford College, North Carolina earns about $67,500 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rutherford College, North Carolina expensive?

In Rutherford College, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $185,600, and the typical rent is about $853 a month.

How educated are people in Rutherford College, North Carolina?

About 26.3% of adults age 25 and over in Rutherford College, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rutherford College, North Carolina?

About 7.7% of people in Rutherford College, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rutherford College, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Rutherford College, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 248 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Rutherford College with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →