City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Rutherfordton, NC

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rutherfordton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,669
Residents
$59,750
Median income
$226,900
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Rutherfordton - the verdict

Rutherfordton ranks in the 35th percentile for household income and the 10th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

35th
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
10th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rutherfordton, NC

North Carolina's Rutherfordton is a small town, with 3,669 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Rutherfordton households earn a median of $59,750 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 11.0%. Rutherfordton's housing stock carries a median value of $226,900, and the median resident age is 39.0 years. About 29.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 49.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Rutherfordton's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3620.6 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $925 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 72.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

3,669 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$59,750 /yr

Poverty 11.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Rutherfordton compare to other US cities?

Rutherfordton measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 35% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 10% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just North Carolina and the picture shifts: Rutherfordton ranks #144 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rutherfordton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Rutherfordton near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Rutherfordton ranks #552 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rutherfordton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#339 of 700
51st percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#253 of 708
64th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#336 of 746
55th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#235 of 746
68th percentile in North Carolina

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

35thIncome percentile
10thSafety percentile

35th percentile nationally for median household income · 10th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rutherfordton's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rutherfordton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 39 Avg. percentile National median
Rutherfordton's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Rutherfordton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$226,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rutherfordton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rutherfordton, NC Rutherfordton, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rutherfordton, NC-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rutherfordton, NC median $59,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rutherfordton, NC's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rutherfordton, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 29.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,669
Median Income
$59,750
Median Home Value
$226,900
Median Age
39.0
Poverty Rate
11.0%
Labor force participation
49.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
29.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3620.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
297.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
3323.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,640 residents3,660 residents3,680 residents3,700 residents3,720 residents3,740 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,662 residents 3,723 residents ▲ +1.7%
Rutherfordton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.0%
Carpool
17.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.8%
Other
4.7%

Based on 1,381 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rutherfordton sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
72.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Eastover
3,666 people
Wilkesboro
3,664 people
Glen Raven
3,684 people
Jamestown
3,685 people
Welcome
3,649 people
Tabor City
3,695 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rutherfordton's 3,669 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Frontenac, MO
3,669 people
Thomasville, AL
3,668 people
Nome, AK
3,668 people
Leo-Cedarville, IN
3,670 people
Rexland Acres, CA
3,667 people
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
3,667 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rutherfordton's $59,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Concord, GA
$59,750 median income
Scotland, GA
$59,750 median income
Lenox, IA
$59,750 median income
Lake City, MI
$59,750 median income
Dassel, MN
$59,750 median income
Valleyview, OH
$59,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rutherfordton, NC Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rutherfordton, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 72.8% 9.4% 12.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.1% White 72.8% Black or African American 9.4% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.6% Two or more races 12.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rutherfordton compares to nearby North Carolina cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rutherfordton (this city) 3,669 $59,750
Eastover 3,666 $80,000
Wilkesboro 3,664 $41,175
Glen Raven 3,684 $64,189
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rutherfordton, NC?

What is the population of Rutherfordton, NC? +

Rutherfordton, NC counts 3,669 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rutherfordton, NC? +

Rutherfordton households earn a median of $59,750 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rutherfordton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rutherfordton; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

Is Rutherfordton, NC safe? +

Rutherfordton has a total crime rate of 3620.6 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Rutherfordton, NC? +

The median home value in Rutherfordton is $226,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.