Rutherford County, North Carolina Income Statistics
Rutherford County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Rutherford County Well below averageLess wealthy than 75% of counties in North Carolina
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rutherford County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $51,879 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,717 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.2% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.9% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rutherford County is about 28% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing slower in Rutherford County (4.7%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Rutherford County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rutherford County, North Carolina grew by 48.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $51,879 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rutherford County
| Metric | Rutherford County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.539 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,220 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,176 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.1% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rutherford County, it is 0.539, lower than North Carolina's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $281,540 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rutherford County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 19% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2021, and was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,401 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rutherford County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.6% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 1,863 people are unemployed in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Rutherford County is 21 minutes, about the same as in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rutherford County, North Carolina has fallen from 13.2% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 16.0% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.5% in 2023.
Rutherford County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rutherford County, NC is typical in size for this group, 64,922 residents against a local median of 56,649, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. The measure that sets Rutherford County, NC apart most is unemployment: 6.3%, 25% above the local median of 5.1%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.2% on unemployment, so Rutherford County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Rutherford County, NC has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County, NC | 64,922 | $51,879 #5/6 | 4.7%/yr #4/6 | 6.3% #6/6 | 0.539 #4/6 |
| Polk County, NC | 19,891 | $67,030 | 4.5%/yr | 5.1% | 0.541 |
| McDowell County, NC | 44,809 | $57,967 | 5.7%/yr | 4.1% | 0.519 |
| Cleveland County, NC | 100,962 | $58,567 | 5.2%/yr | 5.2% | 0.541 |
| Burke County, NC | 87,684 | $59,001 | 5.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.518 |
| Cherokee County, SC | 56,649 | $50,370 | 4.5%/yr | 6.2% | 0.529 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rutherford County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Rutherford County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $51,879, about 28% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How fast is household income rising in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rutherford County, North Carolina rose 49%, from $34,885 to $51,879. Over the same years, income here lagged behind North Carolina as a whole: +49% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Rutherford County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rutherford County, North Carolina was $49,750, down 1% from $50,441 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Rutherford County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rutherford County, North Carolina was $43,229. By 2024 it had risen 20% to $51,879.
How strong is the job market in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Rutherford County, North Carolina is 6.3%, well above the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Rutherford County is 0.539. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rutherford County, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rutherford County, North Carolina has narrowed from about 19% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2021, and was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,401 since 2009.
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