Rutherford County Demographics

A map of Rutherford County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	52,457	52,026	80.8%	80.7%
Black	4,984	5,836	7.7%	9.1%
Hispanic	3,698	3,286	5.7%	5.1%
Multiracial	2,881	2,568	4.4%	4.0%
Native American/Other	606	385	0.9%	0.6%
Asian	304	343	0.5%	0.5%

Rutherford County, North Carolina has an estimated population of 64,930, a less than 1% change from the 64,444 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 80.8% White, 7.7% Black, 5.7% Hispanic, 4.4% Multiracial, 0.9% Native American/Other, and 0.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Rutherford County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Rutherford is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Rutherford County, that probability was 33.6% in 2020 and 33.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Rutherford County is ranked the 43rd most populous county in North Carolina, out of 100 counties. Rutherford County was ranked the 41st most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Rutherford County's White Population

52,457 residents of Rutherford County, or 80.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Rutherford County is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Rutherford County ranks 28th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rutherford County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Rutherford County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 80.8%.

Rutherford County is more White than neighboring Cleveland County (70.6% White), Burke County (79.1% White), and Cherokee County (69.7% White). Rutherford County is less White than neighboring Polk County (86.6% White), and McDowell County (85.6% White).

Rutherford County's Black Population

4,984 residents of Rutherford County, or 7.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Rutherford County is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Rutherford County ranks 66th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rutherford County's Black population has declined by an estimated 14.6%. Black residents' share of Rutherford County's population has decreased from 9.1% to 7.7%.

Rutherford County is more Black than neighboring Polk County (4.4% Black), McDowell County (3.8% Black), and Burke County (6.1% Black). Rutherford County is less Black than neighboring Cleveland County (17.9% Black), and Cherokee County (18.7% Black).

Rutherford County's Asian Population

304 residents of Rutherford County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Rutherford County is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Rutherford County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rutherford County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 11.4%. Asian residents' share of Rutherford County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Rutherford County is less Asian than neighboring Polk County (0.8% Asian), McDowell County (1.1% Asian), Cleveland County (0.9% Asian), and Burke County (3.5% Asian).

Rutherford County's Hispanic Population

3,698 residents of Rutherford County, or 5.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Rutherford County is lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Rutherford County ranks 72nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rutherford County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Rutherford County's population has increased from 5.1% to 5.7%.

Rutherford County is more Hispanic than neighboring Polk County (5.6% Hispanic), Cleveland County (4.7% Hispanic), and Cherokee County (5.5% Hispanic). Rutherford County is less Hispanic than neighboring McDowell County (7.1% Hispanic), and Burke County (8.5% Hispanic).

Rutherford County's Native American/Other Population

606 residents of Rutherford County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Rutherford County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Rutherford County ranks 70th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rutherford County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 57.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Rutherford County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Rutherford County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Polk County (0.5% Native American/Other), McDowell County (0.3% Native American/Other), Cleveland County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Burke County (0.3% Native American/Other). Rutherford County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Cherokee County (1.6% Native American/Other).

Rutherford County's Multiracial Population

2,881 residents of Rutherford County, or 4.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Rutherford County is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Rutherford County ranks 24th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 100 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Rutherford County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 12.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Rutherford County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.4%.

Rutherford County is more Multiracial than neighboring Polk County (2.1% Multiracial), McDowell County (2% Multiracial), Burke County (2.5% Multiracial), and Cherokee County (4% Multiracial). Rutherford County is less Multiracial than neighboring Cleveland County (5.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.