COMPARING TWO PLACES
McDowell County vs Rutherford County
PLACE A
McDowell County, West Virginia
VS
PLACE B
Rutherford County, North Carolina
McDowell County is 74% smaller than Rutherford County. Rutherford County earns more, with a median household income $19,851 higher. Rutherford County has grown faster since 2000 (-5% vs -14%).
MCDOWELL COUNTYRUTHERFORD COUNTYDIFFERENCE
Total population16,87865,745−74% vs Rutherford County
Population density32116−85
Population growth-13.6%-5.0%−8.6 pts
Median age43.745.3−1.6
Male53.3%48.4%+4.9 pts
Female46.7%51.6%−4.9 pts
Foreign-born1.6%3.1%−1.5 pts
White, non-Hispanic86.5%80.8%+5.7 pts
Black8.8%7.7%+1.1 pts
Hispanic / Latino2.1%5.7%−3.6 pts
Asian0.1%0.5%−0.4 pts
Other2.6%5.4%−2.8 pts
Median household income$31,559$51,410−$19,851
Per capita income$17,253$30,460−$13,207
Poverty rate34.2%16.8%+17.4 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4620.467Even
Bachelor's degree or higher6.8%21.5%−14.7 pts
Graduate degree2.3%8.2%−5.9 pts
Unemployment rate8.2%6.3%+1.9 pts
Labor force participation27.1%54.9%−27.8 pts
Median home value$50,000$201,800−$151,800
Median gross rent$643$783−$140
Owner-occupied77.3%73.9%+3.4 pts
Housing vacancy rate30.7%18.7%+12.0 pts
Rent-burdened households32.8%38.5%−5.7 pts
Average commute36.026.1+9.9
Worked from home4.5%8.6%−4.1 pts
Public transit to work0.5%0.1%+0.4 pts
Uninsured8.8%12.0%−3.2 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025