CensusEasy
CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Rutherfordton

North Carolina · 4,131 residents · 4.14 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Forest City micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Rutherfordton is a city of 4,131 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 40.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Renters pay $423 a month at the median. 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 514 more people live here than in 1990. Home values have risen by half since 1990, reaching $98,200.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 40.3
US median: 35.2
More educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,131
+14%since 1990
from 3,617 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
40.3
+3%since 1990
from 39.1 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
4.14 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K4K4K4K19902000201020202024Rutherfordton
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.2%(216)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 96.6%(274)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.4%(266)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.3%(260)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.9%(204)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.1%(498)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4416%(659)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412.8%(529)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.2%(379)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 748.9%(366)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 848.6%(355)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over3%(125)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,941
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $24,886 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,742
+56%since 1990
from $13,909 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
10.8%
−5.0 ptssince 1990
from 15.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$98,200
+29%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $57,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$423
+2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $314 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
63.0%
−1.7 ptssince 1990
from 64.7% in 1990
37.0% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic86.9%(3,142)
Black13%(470)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(32)
Asian0%(0)
2000
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(3,451)
Black13.6%(561)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(53)
Asian0.7%(28)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.9%(289)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.7%(25)
Chinese0.5%(17)
Ancestry
English23.7%(872)
German10.3%(378)
Irish10.3%(378)
Italian6.8%(251)
American5.8%(214)
Scotch-Irish3.2%(116)
Danish1.8%(67)
Scottish1.6%(60)
Portuguese1.3%(48)
Polish1.3%(46)
Dutch0.9%(34)
British0.8%(29)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
Russian0.8%(28)
French0.4%(15)
Brazilian0.3%(12)
Greek0.2%(9)
Belgian0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.1%
+4.2 ptssince 1990
from 24.9% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
76.7%
+8.7 ptssince 1990
from 68.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
9.6%
−0.3 ptssince 1990
from 9.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.0 min
−3%since 1990
from 14.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married21.6%(349)
Married67.6%(1,092)
Widowed2.8%(46)
Divorced7.9%(128)
Women 15+
Never married14.9%(276)
Married59.6%(1,104)
Widowed17%(315)
Divorced8.5%(157)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
7.9%
−10.1 ptssince 2013
from 18.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
40.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2020
from 37.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
22.5%
−9.7 ptssince 2020
from 32.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
29.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
29.0%
+12.8 ptssince 2020
from 16.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 5.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
60.6%
−7.1 ptssince 2020
from 67.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
55.7%
+9.7 ptssince 2020
from 46.0% 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)8.6%(12)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)11.4%(16)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era42.1%(59)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 140 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.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

Places similar to Rutherfordton

Meadow Oaks
Pop 3,705
Crystal River
Pop 3,618
Midway
Pop 3,482
Camden
Pop 4,176
Places similar to Rutherfordton
Head to head

Compare Rutherfordton to nearby cities

RUTHERFORDTON VS
Boiling Springs
Income$72,068+90%
Home value$244,400+149%
Population12,936+247%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORDTON VS
Shelby
Income$48,376+28%
Home value$197,200+101%
Population23,309+526%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORDTON VS
Valley Falls
Income$55,661+47%
Home value$256,600+161%
Population8,239+121%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORDTON VS
Gaffney
Income$41,089+8%
Home value$137,700+40%
Population12,583+238%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rutherfordton, North Carolina?

Rutherfordton, North Carolina has about 4,131 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Rutherfordton, North Carolina?

The typical household in Rutherfordton, North Carolina earns about $37,941 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rutherfordton, North Carolina expensive?

In Rutherfordton, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $98,200, and the typical rent is about $423 a month.

How educated are people in Rutherfordton, North Carolina?

About 29.1% of adults age 25 and over in Rutherfordton, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rutherfordton, North Carolina?

About 10.8% of people in Rutherfordton, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rutherfordton, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Rutherfordton, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 514 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
North Carolina

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

How we source and harmonize this data →