Cliffside, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Cliffside, North Carolina had a total population of 438, the 610th largest community in North Carolina, with a median household income of $51,438, which is 29% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 7.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Cliffside Quick Facts
How Cliffside Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 630 | 438 | -30.5% |
How Cliffside Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cliffside Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Rutherford County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City | 7,363 | $35,524 | 32.1% | $160,800 |
| Spindale | 4,131 | $41,262 | 21.8% | $167,400 |
| Rutherfordton | 3,680 | $59,375 | 12.7% | $288,400 |
| Lake Lure | 1,543 | $80,357 | 11.5% | $627,000 |
| Ellenboro | 901 | $49,769 | 18.3% | $164,400 |
| Ruth | 510 | $51,250 | 35.7% | $138,300 |
| Bostic | 433 | $57,813 | 17.8% | $171,900 |
| Henrietta | 197 | N/A | 20.8% | $162,500 |
| Chimney Rock Village | 122 | $64,375 | 8.2% | $477,300 |
| Caroleen | 116 | N/A | 29.3% | $137,500 |
Cities Similar to Cliffside
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachey | 427 | $51,111 | $181,800 | 27.2% | 15.8% |
| Ruffin | 423 | N/A | N/A | 3.5% | 6.8% |
| Ronda | 436 | $48,393 | $109,500 | 16.9% | 21.3% |
| Evergreen | 421 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 34.4% |
| Fountain | 409 | N/A | $134,700 | 23.3% | 57.7% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 438, Cliffside's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Cliffside is a small community located in North Carolina, within Rutherford County. The total population is 438. It ranks as the 610th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Cliffside is 50.9 years. This is 30% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Cliffside is $51,438. This is 29% lower than the state median of $72,388. It is also 36% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.1%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.0%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Cliffside, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 74.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Cliffside has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.5% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 10.5%.
Education
15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 57% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Cliffside, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Cliffside, North Carolina?
Cliffside, North Carolina has a population of 438 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Cliffside, NC?
The median household income in Cliffside is $51,438, which is 36% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Cliffside, NC?
The poverty rate in Cliffside is 7.1%. This means approximately 31 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Cliffside, North Carolina?
Cliffside's population is 89.5% White, 10.5% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Cliffside, NC?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Cliffside — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Cliffside, North Carolina?
15.2% of adults (25+) in Cliffside hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.