Ruth town, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Ruth town is a small community located in North Carolina. The total population is 526. It ranks as the 580th most populous out of 774 cities and towns in North Carolina.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ruth town is 41.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ruth town is $48,125. This is 31% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 39% lower. The poverty rate stands at 29.4%. This is 124% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 19% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $122,000. Housing costs are 53% lower than the state median of $259,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Ruth town is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ruth town is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.7%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

13.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 34.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ruth town, North Carolina is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 774 Census-designated places in North Carolina. For official data, visit data.census.gov.