County · Tennessee
Rutherford County, Tennessee
Rutherford County, Tennessee. Rutherford County had 386,352 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 13.1% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). It holds 7 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 64 census tracts. GEOID 47149.
Rutherford County is one of the 14 counties of the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
386,352
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 341,486 · ACS 2020-2024: 360,646
Median household income
$85,470
±$1,909 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $69,595
Median home value
$382,600
±$5,768 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $286,700
Median gross rent
$1,502
±$35 (90% margin)
Tennessee: $1,189
How many people live in Rutherford County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 341,486 residents in Rutherford County. The Census Bureau estimates 386,352 for July 1, 2025, up 13.1% since 2020, faster than Tennessee (+5.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 360,646 over 619 square miles of land.
| Measure | Rutherford County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 360,646 | 7,066,383 | +44,831 |
| Households | 129,431±1,019 | 2,824,277 | +17,755 |
| Average household size | 2.75±0.02 | 2.45 | −0.03 |
| Housing units | 138,929±84 | 3,143,670 | +20,238 |
Rutherford County's population since 2000
From 182,023 in 2000 to 386,352 in 2025: up 112.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Rutherford County?
Rutherford County holds 7 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Murfreesboro with 171,178 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Murfreesboro | 152,769 | $80,108 |
|---|---|---|
| Smyrna | 53,070 | $81,926 |
| La Vergne | 38,719 | $81,313 |
| Christiana | 4,305 | $100,683 |
| RockvaleGEOID 4764400 | 1,279 | $86,404 |
| Eagleville | 813 | $88,317 |
| WalterhillGEOID 4777980 | 407 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Rutherford County?
The median resident of Rutherford County is 34.2 years old; 24.7% are under 18 and 11.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.7%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 14.7%. 10.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Rutherford County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2±0.1 | 38.9 | +0.7 |
| Under 18 years | 24.7%±0.1 pts | 22.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.2%±0.1 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.2% | 7.4% | +4.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.7%±0.3 pts | 71.0% | −7.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 14.7%±0.3 pts | 15.4% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.6%±0.2 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.0%±0.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.9%±0.6 pts | 6.1% | +3.5 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.1%±0.7 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.3%±0.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 11.9%±0.6 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.0%±0.9 pts | 10.0% | +1.4 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4%±0.6 pts | 90.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.8%±1.0 pts | 31.1% | +3.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.8%±0.7 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.9%±0.4 pts | 3.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Rutherford County earn?
Half of Rutherford County's 129,431 households earn less than $85,470 a year (±$1,909), against $69,595 in Tennessee. In 2015-2019 the median was $82,984 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,486 after inflation. 9.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Rutherford County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,470±$1,909 | $69,595 | +$2,486 |
| Mean household income | $105,834±$2,426 | $96,820 | – |
| Per capita income | $39,158±$926 | $39,437 | +$2,042 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.3%±0.8 pts | 13.8% | −1.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.7%±1.4 pts | 18.8% | −3.4 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.0%±0.7 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.8%±0.7 pts | 89.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Rutherford County?
Owners occupy 64.8% of Rutherford County's occupied homes and renters 35.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $382,600 by its owner (±$5,768). The median renter pays $1,502 a month including utilities, and 39.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Rutherford County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $382,600±$5,768 | $286,700 | +$120,216 |
| Median gross rent | $1,502±$35 | $1,189 | +$194 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.7%±2.8 pts | 39.7% | +5.9 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,745±$29 | $1,566 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.8%±1.1 pts | 66.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 138,929±84 | 3,143,670 | +20,238 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.5%±1.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.5%±1.1 pts | 68.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4%±0.4 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 5.7%±0.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.7%±0.3 pts | 5.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Rutherford County building?
Builders took permits for 3,169 new housing units across Rutherford County in 2025 (2,533 single-family), 8.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Rutherford County get to work?
73.0% of Rutherford County's workers drive alone and 15.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Rutherford County | Tennessee | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 71.7%±0.8 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6%±0.5 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.0%±1.0 pts | 75.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.8%±0.8 pts | 8.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.0%±0.9 pts | 12.9% | +9.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.1 min±0.6 | 25.7 min | −1.0 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Rutherford County's census tracts?
Rutherford County is divided into 64 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $34,961 (Tract 403.05) to $149,368 (Tract 413.01).
All 64 census tracts of Rutherford County, with their figures
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Rutherford County compare with Tennessee's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 5th of 95 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 5th of 95 |
| Residents per square mile | 5th of 95 |
| Median household income | 6th of 95 |
| Median home value | 5th of 95 |
| Median gross rent | 3rd of 95 |
| Poverty rate | 89th of 95 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6th of 95 |
| Median age | 94th of 95 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Rutherford County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.