Rutherford County, North Carolina Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rutherford County is located in North Carolina with a total population of 64,850. It is the 41st most populous county out of 100 in North Carolina. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rutherford County is 45.3 years. This is 16% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rutherford County is $49,771. This is 29% lower than the state median of $69,904. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 34% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. The unemployment rate is 5.5%. This is 14% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $180,800. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $259,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rutherford County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.2% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 8.1%. The Black or African American population (8.1%) is well below the state average of 20.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 3.1%.

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% 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 86.6%.