Rutherfordton township, North Carolina
Rutherfordton township profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Rutherfordton township is a geographic entity located in Rutherford County, North Carolina. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 12,567. The land area covers 26.50 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 12,567 | ±811 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 47.9 yrs | ±3.9 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 5,253 | ±424 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 5,957 | ±422 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 5,253 | ±424 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 704 | ±195 |
| Median Home Value | $236,200 | ±$19,422 |
| Median Gross Rent | $746 | ±$39 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $48,275 | ±$8,358 |
| Per Capita Income | $31,037 | ±$3,116 |
| Poverty Rate | 17.5% | ±3.9% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 2,070 | ±480 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7% | ±3.2% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 4,785 | ±476 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 85.5% | ±4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 65,587 (2024)
ID: 171113
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: GIS COORDINATOR
289 N MAIN ST, RUTHERFORDTON NC 28139-2549
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Rutherfordton | PK-05 | Rutherfordton, NC | |
| Regular School Rutherfordton | 09-12 | Rutherfordton, NC | |
| Regular School Rutherfordton | 06-08 | Rutherfordton, NC | |
| Regular School Rutherfordton | PK-05 | Rutherfordton, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Forest City, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Forest City, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | Cliffside, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | Chesnee, SC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Bostic, NC | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Bostic, NC |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Isothermal Community College
|
College | 3.0 mi away | 286 ICC Loop Road, Spindale, NC, 28160-0804 |
8282863636
|
|
RUTHERFORD COUNTY LIBRARY
|
Library | 2.6 mi away | 255 CALLAHAN KOON RD, SPINDALE, NC, 28160 |
(828) 287-6115
|
|
Gardner-Webb University
|
College | 17.9 mi away | Main St, Boiling Springs, NC, 28017-0997 |
7044062361
|
|
HAYNES PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 11.0 mi away | 2669 HWY 221A, MOORESBORO, NC, 28114 |
(828) 288-4039
|
|
McDowell Technical Community College
|
College | 20.0 mi away | 54 College Drive, Marion, NC, 28752-8728 |
8286526021
|
|
MOUNTAINS BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 12.7 mi away | 150 BILLS CREEK RD, LAKE LURE, NC, 28746 |
(828) 287-6392
|
|
Sherman College of Chiropractic
|
College | 24.4 mi away | 2020 Springfield Rd, Boiling Springs, SC, 29316 |
8645788770
|
|
CHESNEE BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 16.6 mi away | 100 PICKENS AVENUE, CHESNEE, SC, 29323 |
(864) 461-2423
|
|
POLK COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 17.4 mi away | 1289 W MILLS ST, COLUMBUS, NC, 28722 |
(828) 894-8721
|
|
LANDRUM BRANCH LIBRARY
|
Library | 18.1 mi away | 111 E. ASBURY DRIVE, LANDRUM, SC, 29356 |
(864) 457-2218
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at FOREST CITY 8 W, NC US, located 4.4 miles from Rutherfordton township. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51.5° | 27.3° | 39.4° | 4.27" | — |
| February | 55.4° | 29.9° | 42.6° | 3.86" | — |
| March | 63.3° | 35.3° | 49.3° | 4.35" | — |
| April | 72.3° | 43.5° | 57.9° | 4.42" | — |
| May | 78.9° | 53.0° | 66.0° | 3.93" | — |
| June | 85.9° | 62.5° | 74.2° | 5.01" | — |
| July | 88.9° | 66.6° | 77.7° | 4.91" | — |
| August | 87.4° | 65.8° | 76.6° | 4.48" | — |
| September | 81.9° | 59.5° | 70.7° | 4.54" | — |
| October | 72.5° | 45.7° | 59.1° | 3.57" | — |
| November | 62.8° | 34.3° | 48.5° | 3.90" | — |
| December | 54.5° | 30.3° | 42.4° | 4.82" | — |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherfordton town | Town | 0.7 mi | — |
| Ruth town | Town | 1.1 mi | — |
| Spindale town | Town | 1.6 mi | — |
| Forest City town | Town | 5.0 mi | — |
| Bostic town | Town | 6.4 mi | — |
| Caroleen CDP | CDP | 10.7 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 3716192776. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.