City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Rutherford, TN

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

1,203
Residents
$50,000
Median income
$91,500
Median home
$927
Median rent (state)

Rutherford - the verdict

Rutherford ranks in the 19th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

19th
percentile, household income
7th
percentile, home value
8th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Rutherford, TN

Rutherford is a small town in Tennessee, home to 1,203 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Rutherford brings in $50,000 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.5%. Typical homes in Rutherford are valued around $91,500, and the median resident age is 35.8 years. About 19.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Rutherford (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: the state registers 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $927 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $218 across Tennessee, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Rutherford workers runs 26.1 minutes, with 83.7% driving alone and 3.7% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 85.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

1,203 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$50,000 /yr

Poverty 8.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Rutherford compare to other US cities?

Where Rutherford sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 7% pricier than other cities
Median rent 8% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Rutherford's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Tennessee, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

19thIncome percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rutherford's home value compares nationally

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

$91,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 93% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $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. Rutherford $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 - Rutherford, TN Rutherford, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rutherford, TN-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 Rutherford, TN median $50,000/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%
Rutherford, TN'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 Rutherford, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.1%

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

Population
1,203
Median Income
$50,000
Median Home Value
$91,500
Median Age
35.8
Poverty Rate
8.5%
Labor force participation
59.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.9%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,145 residents1,150 residents1,155 residents1,160 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,157 residents 1,147 residents ▼ -0.9%
Rutherford's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 3
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 4
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
26.1 minutes
Drive Alone
83.7%
Carpool
6.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.7%
Other
5.8%

Based on 541 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Tennessee - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Tennessee 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 Tennessee state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rutherford sits in

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$927/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
85.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Erin
1,212 people
Gleason
1,179 people
Rockvale
1,229 people
Atwood
1,230 people
Rossville
1,173 people
Bradford
1,240 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rutherford's 1,203 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fruitdale, CA
1,203 people
Mount Hermon, CA
1,203 people
Poplar Plains, CT
1,203 people
Third Lake, IL
1,203 people
Martin Lake, MN
1,203 people
Bergen, NY
1,203 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rutherford's $50,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Paint Rock, AL
$50,000 median income
Woodville, AL
$50,000 median income
Adak, AK
$50,000 median income
Calhan, CO
$50,000 median income
Baldwin, IL
$50,000 median income
Kingston Mines, IL
$50,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rutherford, TN 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 Rutherford, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.8% 13.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 83.8% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 13.3% 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 Rutherford compares to nearby Tennessee cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Rutherford (this city) 1,203 $50,000
Erin 1,212 $34,500
Gleason 1,179 $58,906
Rockvale 1,229 $80,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rutherford, TN?

What is the population of Rutherford, TN? +

Rutherford, TN has a population of 1,203 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rutherford, TN? +

Rutherford households earn a median of $50,000 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rutherford? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rutherford; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rutherford, TN? +

A typical home in Rutherford is worth $91,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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.