The Town FilesRutherford County, North Carolina
64,930 people. The median home is worth $201,800 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $51,410.
Towns in Rutherford County
| Town | People | Median home | Income | Median age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City | 7,377 | $160,800 | $35,524 | 35.1 |
| Spindale | 4,225 | $167,400 | $41,262 | 44.9 |
| Rutherfordton | 3,640 | $288,400 | $59,375 | 38.9 |
| Lake Lure | 1,365 | $627,000 | $80,357 | 61.7 |
| Ellenboro | 723 | $164,400 | $49,769 | 27.5 |
| Caroleen | 560 | $137,500 | — | 41.6 |
| Cliffside | 530 | — | $51,438 | 50.9 |
People and housing
| Rutherford County | Typical North Carolina town | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $783 | $969 |
| Median household income | $51,410 | $60,458 |
| Median age | 45.3 | 41.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 14.3% |
Jobs and pay
17,994 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,125 a year.
Storms since 1996
NOAA recorded 601 storm events in Rutherford County from 1996 to 2026, with 8 deaths.
Federal disaster declarations
Rutherford County has been included in 22 FEMA declarations since 1953.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
| May 8, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4543: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).