What percentage of people rent in Rutherfordton, NC?

Name: Renters and owners in Rutherfordton, NC, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

35.7% (±9.0 points) of the occupied homes in Rutherfordton, NC are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 553 renting households against 997 that own their home.

In Rutherfordton, the share of households that rent went from 45.8% in 2015–2019 to 35.7% in 2020–2024 (−10.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 35.7% (±9.0 points)
Renting households: 553 (±152)
Median renter income: $38,211 (±$7,889)

Who rents and who owns in Rutherfordton

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Rutherfordton	Rutherford County	North Carolina	United States
Renter-occupied share	35.7% (±9.0 points)	26.1% (±2.1 points)	33.4% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	553 (±152)	6,958 (±560)	1,428,852 (±8,279)	45,017,354
Owning households	997 (±182)	19,684 (±621)	2,853,493 (±14,473)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	1.9 (±0.4)	2.2 (±0.1)	2.3 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.5 (±0.3)	2.5 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$38,211 (±$7,889)	$34,112 (±$3,313)	$48,010 (±$418)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$81,129 (±$11,013)	$60,367 (±$3,112)	$88,911 (±$521)	$100,009

In Rutherfordton, the renter share is higher than in Rutherford County (26.1%).

It is not measurably different from North Carolina (33.4%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (34.8%).

In Rutherford County, Rutherfordton ranks 4 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 267 of 663.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Rutherfordton has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	45.8% (±7.8 points)	35.7% (±9.0 points)	−10.1 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$783 (±$57)	$860 (±$146)	+9.8%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$47,175 (±$6,681)	$59,375 (±$13,689)	+25.9%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Rutherfordton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Rutherfordton
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Rutherfordton	—	35.7% (±9.0 points)	—
Ruth	1.6 mi	24.7% (±14.2 points)	Not measurably different
Spindale	2.2 mi	56.4% (±7.6 points)	Higher
Forest City	5.5 mi	54.6% (±8.1 points)	Higher
Bostic	7.1 mi	31.9% (±13.7 points)	Not measurably different
Ellenboro	12 mi	34.6% (±13.0 points)	Not measurably different
Lake Lure	15 mi	11.9% (±6.9 points)	Lower
Mooresboro	15 mi	32.1% (±18.7 points)	Not measurably different
Columbus	16 mi	36.6% (±10.7 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Lake Lure, NC (11.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Spindale, NC (56.4%), Forest City, NC (54.6%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Rutherford County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Spindale	56.4% (±7.6 points)
2	Forest City	54.6% (±8.1 points)
3	Chimney Rock Village	43.1% (±28.0 points)
4	Rutherfordton	35.7% (±9.0 points)
5	Ellenboro	34.6% (±13.0 points)
6	Bostic	31.9% (±13.7 points)
7	Ruth	24.7% (±14.2 points)
8	Lake Lure	11.9% (±6.9 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Rutherfordton

How many renters are there in Rutherfordton?

Rutherfordton has an estimated 553 (±152) renting households, 35.7% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Rutherfordton?

In Rutherfordton, the share of households that rent went from 45.8% in 2015–2019 to 35.7% in 2020–2024 (−10.1 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Rutherfordton?

A renting household in Rutherfordton has 1.9 people on average, against 2.5 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Rutherfordton?

The median renting household in Rutherfordton, NC has an income of $38,211 (±$7,889) a year, against $81,129 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Rutherfordton town, North Carolina (place:58460, in state:37).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.