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COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Rutherford County

North Carolina · 62,899 residents · 565.437 sq mi
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The short version

Rutherford County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $31,122. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $71,300.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.3
US median: 35.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,899
+11%since 1990
from 56,918 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
111 / sq mi
+11%since 1990
from 101 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
38.3
+7%since 1990
from 35.6 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
56K59K62K66K69K1990201020202024Rutherford County
202465K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$31,122
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $23,828 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,270
+44%since 1990
from $11,287 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
13.9%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 12.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$71,300
+18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $45,700 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$404
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $310 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
74.5%
+1.5 ptssince 1990
from 73.0% in 1990
25.5% rent
Afford Score
2.3
+19%since 1990
from 1.9 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rutherford County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(50,140)
Black11.5%(6,555)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(257)
Asian0.1%(56)
Diversity Score27.2%(15,494)
2000
White, non-Hispanic85.8%(53,957)
Black11.2%(7,028)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(1,136)
Asian0.3%(191)
Diversity Score29.6%(18,644)
Diversity Score
30
+9%since 1990
from 27 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.5%
+2.6 ptssince 1990
from 9.8% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
70.4%
+11.0 ptssince 1990
from 59.4% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.9%
+0.8 ptssince 1990
from 3.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
14.9 min
−16%since 1990
from 17.7 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.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Rutherford County

Jefferson County
Pop 62,987
Grant County
Pop 66,524
Russell County
Pop 58,898
DeKalb County
Pop 74,085
Places similar to Rutherford County
Head to head

Compare Rutherford County to nearby counties

RUTHERFORD COUNTY VS
Polk County
Income$67,758+118%
Home value$315,000+342%
Population20,533−69%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORD COUNTY VS
McDowell County
Income$57,168+84%
Home value$171,100+140%
Population45,198−31%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORD COUNTY VS
Cleveland County
Income$58,534+88%
Home value$200,000+181%
Population103,325+57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
RUTHERFORD COUNTY VS
Burke County
Income$58,592+88%
Home value$185,400+160%
Population88,655+35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rutherford County, North Carolina?

Rutherford County, North Carolina has about 62,899 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Rutherford County, North Carolina earns about $31,122 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rutherford County, North Carolina expensive?

In Rutherford County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $71,300, and the typical rent is about $404 a month.

How educated are people in Rutherford County, North Carolina?

About 12.5% of adults age 25 and over in Rutherford County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

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

About 13.9% of people in Rutherford County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rutherford County, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Rutherford County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,981 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

22 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 9602.01Census Tract 9609Census Tract 9608Census Tract 9612Census Tract 9606Census Tract 9610.01Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9611.02Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9605.02Census Tract 9610.02Census Tract 9605.01Census Tract 9611.03Census Tract 9611.04Census Tract 9601.03Census Tract 9601.02Census Tract 9602.02Census Tract 9605.03Census Tract 9603.01Census Tract 9603.02
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 28043ZIP 28139ZIP 28040ZIP 28018ZIP 28160ZIP 28746ZIP 28167ZIP 28720ZIP 28076ZIP 28024ZIP 28074ZIP 28019
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →