Population
65,745
2025
+2.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Rutherford County, NC growth snapshot
Rutherford County had an estimated 65,745 residents in 2025, up 2.1% (1,375 more people) since 2020. That is slower than North Carolina as a whole (+7.2%), and the 93rd fastest growth of 146 counties in the Carolinas.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+565
2025
8.6 per 1,000 residents
+3,436 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Jobs
18,151
2025
+4.3% since 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Average annual employment covered by unemployment insurance.
Average weekly wage
$943
2025
+26.1% since 2020
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025. Average weekly wage, all covered jobs.
Unemployment rate
4.8%
2025
+0.5 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
269
2025
+47.0% since 2021
4.1 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$51,410
2020–24
+19.1% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
16,815
2023
+4.4% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 565 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Employers counted 18,151 jobs in 2025, +4.3% since 2020 (91st of 146 Carolinas counties for job growth); the average weekly wage was $943.
Unemployment averaged 4.8% in 2025, 0.5 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 269 new homes in 2025, or 4.1 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $51,410 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +19.1% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 1,242nd.
Part of the Forest City, NC micro area.
Rutherford County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65,745 | +166 |
| 2024 | 65,579 | +199 |
| 2023 | 65,380 | +524 |
| 2022 | 64,856 | +333 |
| 2021 | 64,523 | +153 |
| 2020 | 64,370 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Rutherford County
Rutherford County grew by 1,375 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+3,436).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −366 | −2,124 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −31 | +14 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +565 | +3,436 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | −2 | +49 | |
| Total change | +166 | +1,375 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In North Carolina | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 65th of 100 | 1,242nd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 44th of 100 | 666th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 64th of 100 | 1,297th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 81st of 100 | 2,669th of 3,107 |
| Average weekly wage | 71st of 100 | – |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 88th of 100 | 2,399th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 67th of 100 | 800th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the full county report — $99
The quarterly County Growth Report for Rutherford County, NC as a PDF: growth, jobs, wages, permits, announcements, sales where allowed, ranks against peer counties and a methods page. Pay once, no subscription.
See a sample report (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Rutherford County's population change (+2.1%) was ahead of 2 of its 8 neighbouring counties and behind 6.
7 of its 8 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Rutherford County's $51,410 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County, NC This county | 65,745 | +2.1% | 8.6 | 4.1 | $51,410 |
| Polk County, NC | 20,533 | +6.0% | 16.6 | 6.9 | $67,758 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 103,325 | +3.4% | 9.2 | 5.4 | $58,534 |
| McDowell County, NC | 45,198 | +1.4% | 2.4 | 3.6 | $57,168 |
| Burke County, NC | 88,655 | +1.6% | 5.5 | 6.6 | $58,592 |
| Cherokee County, SC | 58,275 | +3.6% | 7.7 | 4.9 | $50,288 |
| Spartanburg County, SC | 380,857 | +15.6% | 24.2 | 10.5 | $66,234 |
| Henderson County, NC | 122,375 | +5.0% | 9.4 | 8.9 | $68,187 |
| Buncombe County, NC | 277,417 | +2.9% | −7.4 | 7.3 | $74,436 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
All 100 North Carolina counties · All Carolinas counties and metros
Questions
What is the population of Rutherford County?
About 65,745 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
Is Rutherford County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 2.1% between 2020 and 2025, about 1,375 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). North Carolina as a whole changed +7.2% over the same years. That ranks 93rd of 146 Carolinas counties for population growth.
How many people moved to Rutherford County?
On net, about 565 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
How many jobs are in Rutherford County?
Employers there reported 18,151 jobs covered by unemployment insurance in 2025, +4.3% since 2020 (BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). The average weekly wage was $943 in 2025.
What is the unemployment rate in Rutherford County?
It averaged 4.8% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
How many new homes are being built in Rutherford County?
Building permits authorized 269 new housing units in 2025, 4.1 per 1,000 residents (Census Bureau Building Permits Survey). Permits count homes authorized, not finished.
What is the median household income in Rutherford County?
$51,410 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
How does Rutherford County compare with other North Carolina counties?
Among North Carolina counties it ranks 65th of 100 for population growth; 44th of 100 for net domestic migration per 1,000 residents; 64th of 100 for private-sector job growth; 81st of 100 for median household income. Nationally it ranks 1,242nd of 3,107 counties for population growth.
See Rutherford County tract by tract
Beacon CRE maps growth, permits, workforce, flood risk, opportunity zones, listings and recent sales for every county and census tract in the Carolinas, with grades that explain themselves.
Card required, cancel anytime before the trial ends. Prefer an invoice? Request a pilot.
Get the Carolinas CRE Growth Brief
One email a month: the NC and SC counties gaining people, jobs and new homes fastest, with the numbers behind them. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.