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CITY · 2010 ACS

Rutherfordton

North Carolina · 4,213 residents · 4.14 sq mi
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The short version

Rutherfordton is home to 4,213 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 44.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 3% of locals were born outside the United States. Getting to work takes 18 minutes on average. Renters pay $583 a month at the median. Households here earn about 15% more than in North Carolina as a whole.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 37.2
Average education
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

4,213
+2%since 2000
from 4,131 in 2000
1990 – 2025
44.4
+10%since 2000
from 40.3 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Land area
4.14 sq mi
Population, 19902024
4K4K4K4K4K19902000201020202024Rutherfordton
20244K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2010
Under 55.5%(230)
US avg: 6.5%
5 to 95.6%(238)
US avg: 6.6%
10 to 145.5%(232)
US avg: 6.7%
15 to 195.8%(244)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.4%(226)
US avg: 7%
25 to 3410.3%(434)
US avg: 13.3%
35 to 4412.7%(533)
US avg: 13.3%
45 to 5415%(633)
US avg: 14.6%
55 to 6413.7%(578)
US avg: 11.8%
65 to 749.4%(396)
US avg: 7%
75 to 847.4%(310)
US avg: 4.2%
85 and over3.8%(159)
US avg: 1.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$52,448
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,941 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
$25,728
+18%since 2000
from $21,742 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
24.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
12.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
0.545
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information23.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade14.5%
US avg: 10.9%
Transportation & warehousing4.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade2.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 2.4%
Public administration1%
US avg: 4.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
Finance & insurance0.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.4%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 4.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$176,000
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $98,200 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
$583
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $423 in 2000
US average: $853
61.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 63.0% in 2000
38.7% rent
14.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
2.29 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.26 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
19.3%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
53.8%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
3.4
−29%since 2009
from 4.7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(3,451)
Black13.6%(561)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(53)
Asian0.7%(28)
Other0%
2010
White, non-Hispanic83.1%(3,503)
Black10.3%(436)
Hispanic / Latino3%(127)
Asian1.6%(68)
Other10.4%(439)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(188)
Puerto Rican1.4%(57)
Honduran0.5%(22)
Ancestry
American17.3%(728)
Irish11%(463)
German10.1%(424)
English7.3%(307)
Scotch-Irish5.2%(219)
Scottish2.5%(104)
French1.8%(75)
Swedish1.5%(64)
Armenian1.5%(63)
Dutch1.1%(47)
Polish0.8%(32)
Italian0.7%(30)
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data
Portuguese0.7%(29)
Hungarian0.3%(12)
Turkish0.2%(9)
Slovak0.2%(8)
British0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

26.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2000
from 29.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
75.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 76.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
13.2%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 9.6% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

18.1 min
+29%since 2000
from 14.0 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
85.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 86.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
2.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
1.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
2.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
8.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
13.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

17.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
43.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 43.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

49.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
50.5%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
2.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
12.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married30.2%(398)
Married59.3%(781)
Widowed4.1%(54)
Divorced6.4%(85)
Women 15+
Never married35.6%(603)
Married40.2%(681)
Widowed11.7%(198)
Divorced12.6%(214)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

7.9%
−10.1 ptssince 2013
from 18.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
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%
29.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 31.6% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Rutherfordton, North Carolina?

Rutherfordton, North Carolina has about 4,213 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Rutherfordton, North Carolina earns about $52,448 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 $176,000, and the typical rent is about $583 a month.

How educated are people in Rutherfordton, North Carolina?

About 26.7% 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 12.7% 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 596 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →