← Map/North Carolina/Counties/Rutherford

Rutherford
North Carolina

65K

Population

$51K

Median Income

$223K

Median Home

R+46

Politics

Economy

Median Household Income$51K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate16.4%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate4.7%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$36,621
Federal Spending per Capita$201
Median Individual Earnings$35K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers28.9%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$58K
Avg Credit Score655
Work From Home %5.5%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1820.2%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households30.3%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms30
Income (20th Percentile)$22K
Income (80th Percentile)$100K
Income (95th Percentile)$178K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher22.1%
This county
national avg 35.0%
Less Than High School14.1%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Knowledge Economy GDP %15.0%
Dependency Ratio1.08
Medicare Spending / Person$3,589
SS Benefits / Person$4,999
Education Wage Premium1.89x
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$47K
Median Earnings (Graduate)$64K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$34K
Public Assistance Recipients2.2%
Average Annual Wage$48K
Professional Services Concentration0.53x national
This county
1.0 = national average share

Housing

Median Home Value$217K
This county
$335K state avg
$303K national
Median Sale Price$225K
This county
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$1063/mo
This county
$1450/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.61%
This county
0.70% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $970

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$925/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+3.4%
Home Value to Income Ratio2.5x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households10.5%
Homeownership Rate73.3%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Listings with Price CutsLow — market moving fast
18.1%
Active Listings
388
New Listings / Month
91

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)Slow — buyers have leverage
54 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)High inventory — buyers market
7.9 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
25.4%
Sale-to-List Ratio (Redfin)Buyers market — homes selling below list
96.5%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy73.4 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Hospital Rating2.0 / 5
This county
national avg 3.0 stars
Food Insecurity16.0%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index6.9 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score17
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score17
Dental Care Shortage Score17
Healthcare Shortage Score17.0
Healthcare Offices72
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)38.0%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)17.8%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)21.4%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)26.8%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)34.8%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians73
Nursing Home Rating3.6 / 5
This county
national avg ~3 stars
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients667 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$10,999
Uninsured (under 65)12.6%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression28.3%

Education

Math Test Scores3.24 grade level
Reading Test Scores3.29 grade level
HS Diploma Holders11,898
Bachelor's Degree Holders5,355
HS Completion Rate85.9%
This county
national avg ~85%
Private Schools11

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.8 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Firearm Fatality Rate16.6 / 100K
This county
national avg ~13.6/100K
Homicide Rate4.3 / 100K
This county
national avg ~7.5/100K
Drug Overdose Rate34.2 / 100K
This county
national avg ~21/100K
Traffic Fatalities11
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)81th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)41.2 / 100K
Suicide Rate19.2 / 100K
This county
national avg ~14/100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale0.5
January Sunshine0.59
January Temperature0.68
Average Temp60°F
Avg High Temp71°F
Avg Low Temp48°F
Annual Precipitation41.2 in/yr
Avg Storm Events8.4 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$175K
Drought Index (2022)-0.38
Heating Degree Days3,321 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days1,370 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)3,695 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)1,274 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.4
Avg Flood Events / Year1.0
Avg Hail Events / Year1.4
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)59 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)26 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations22 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)7.6 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)28 properties
FAA-Registered Airports7 total
Airports (excl. heliports)6 airports

Brewery Scene

Total Breweries1 breweries
Microbreweries1 microbreweries
Brewpubs0 brewpubs

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed173 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed39 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)336 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)233 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)15 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)41 ms
Households with 100Mbps+85.6%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet17.4%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)171 Mbps

EV Infrastructure

EV Charging Stations5 stations
DC Fast Chargers0 chargers
Level 2 EV Chargers9

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers1,445 workers
Public Transit Commuters17 workers
Walk to Work316 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)648 workers
Avg Commute Time24.0 min
This county
national avg ~27 min
Bike Commuters0.1%
Walk to Work1.2%

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden27.2%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers7.7 per 10K residents
Childcare Facilities13

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout65.9%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)4.591
Nonprofit Organizations270
Veterans Share8.1%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults52.1%
Never-Married Adults26.3%
Divorced Adults13.1%
Religious Organizations121
Asian Population0.5%
Native American Population0.2%
Membership Associations20.1 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants0.69 per 1K residents
Colleges & Universities1
Nursing & Care Facilities29
Grocery Stores17
Arts & Entertainment Venues6
Hotels & Lodging21
Recreation Businesses10
Professional Services Firms81
Veterinary Practices12
Real Estate Firms50
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$51K
Avg Student Loan Balance$6K
Avg Credit Card Balance$3K
Loan Delinquency Rate54.6%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.11%

Politics

R+46

2024 Presidential · North Carolina was R+3 statewide

vs North Carolina State

Income tax
4.5%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.61%0.7% state avg
Politics
R+46R+3
COL Index
County data94 (state)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

+925

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Wealthier people moving in (IRS: 1.13x avg income)

Economic Mobility

35%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Rutherford County

Median home value: $223K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Local News — Rutherford

WLOS · قبل 3 أسابيع

Rutherford County woman charged with soliciting first-degree murder and kidnapping

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — A Rutherfordton woman is facing charges in connection with an alleged

Substack · 23‏/06‏/2026

State Moves to Restrict Where People Can Sleep in Public as Courts Affirm Broad Local Authority

Senate advances bill limiting unsanctioned encampments while allowing regulated, state-certified sit

thedigitalcourier.com · قبل أسبوع واحد

NORTH CAROLINA RUTHERFORD COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED

NORTH CAROLINARUTHERFORD COUNTYNOTICE TO CREDITORSTHE UNDERSIGNED, having qualified as Executor of t

FOX Carolina News · 08‏/07‏/2026

Deputies: 6 additional arrests made in Rutherford County murder investigation

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - More arrests have been made in connection with a Rutherford

Ballotpedia · 09‏/01‏/2026

Kala Suttle (Rutherford County Schools, East Rutherford District, North Carolina, candidate 2026)

Kala Suttle (Republican Party) is running for election to the Rutherford County Schools to represent

Greenville Online · قبل شهر واحد

Rutherfordton NC rewards day-trippers with history, trails, charm

Home to Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, Rutherford County, North Carolina, has long been a popular desti

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable