Rutherfordton 73 Excellent
Rutherfordton Livability #67 ranked city in North Carolina#5,114 ranked city in the USARanks better than 82% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Rutherfordton

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Employment Employment

    In the employment category, a low score could be attributed to low income levels and high unemployment in the area, suggesting potential difficulties in finding lucrative employment.

What's it like Living in Rutherfordton?

Rutherfordton is a small-sized city located in the state of North Carolina. The city has a population of 4,211 residents. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (88% White). Given that fact, Rutherfordton could be considered less diverse than other cities. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Rutherfordton offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new city to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Rutherfordton could be a positive experience compared to other cities in North Carolina if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Rutherfordton, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, cost of living, commute, education, employment and more.

The livability score in Rutherfordton is 73 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 84th percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Rutherfordton scores well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) There are some categories that Rutherfordton does not rank well for, including: amenities (F), education (D) and employment (D). It might be worth taking a closer look to determine why.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Rutherfordton apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Rutherfordton is actually affordable. The median home price for Rutherfordton homes is $291,952, which is 0.9% higher than the North Carolina average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Rutherfordton, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.2, which is 2.4% higher than the North Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Rutherfordton

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Rutherfordton?

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Compare Rutherfordton, NC Livability

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      Rutherfordton transportation information

      Statistic Rutherfordton North Carolina National
      Average one way commute21min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work78.5%81.1%76.4%
      Workers who carpool14.9%9.8%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.2%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%1.8%2.8%
      Working from home2.1%4.8%4.6%
      Source: The Rutherfordton, NC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.