Population 360,646 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rutherford County
Household size in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.67 | 2.57 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.77 | 2.63 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.80 | 2.64 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.83 | 2.56 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | −0.01 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Rutherford County average 2.83 people, above the national 2.65, so families with children are more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.67, even as the national average fell. Few Tennessee counties have larger households: only two of 95.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.7 | 36.6 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.3 | 37.3 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.9 | 37.9 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.8 | 38.0 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.2 | +1.5 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Rutherford County is young: half of its residents are under 34.8, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 33.7 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Only one other Tennessee county is younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 11.7% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 11.6% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.7% | 10.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Rutherford County as they are nationally: 12.4%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Nashville area overall (10.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.7 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rutherford County
Renters in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.0% | 31.5% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 33.2% | 34.2% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.8% | 34.2% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.2% | 34.8% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +3.3 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over a third of households in Rutherford County rent their homes (35.2%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 29.8% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 4.2 points, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.1% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 8.8% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.6% | 8.5% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.7% | 8.2% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Rutherford County: 7.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Nashville area. Only nine of Tennessee's 95 counties have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1992 | 1984 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1992 | 1985 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1988 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1999 | 1992 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +9 | +6 | +6 |
Rutherford County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1999, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1992 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the east has the oldest housing. Only one other Tennessee county has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $920 | $905 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,020 | $986 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,161 | $1,212 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,658 | $1,653 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$739 | +$749 | +$526 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Rutherford County costs $1,658 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $739 a month from 2006–10, an 80% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 31.4% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the west.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rutherford County
Bachelor's degrees in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.3% | 30.1% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.6% | 32.0% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.6% | 36.3% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.2% | 41.0% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +10.9 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
More than a third of adults 25 and older in Rutherford County (36.2%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share is lower than in the Nashville area as a whole (41.0%). The share with a degree is up 8.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only five of Tennessee's 95 counties have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.7% | 86.5% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.5% | 88.0% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 90.0% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 91.7% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | +5.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Rutherford County have finished high school (92.7%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.0 points, in line with the national trend. Only four of Tennessee's 95 counties have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rutherford County
| Period | Rutherford County | Nashville area | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 7.8% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −3.6 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rutherford County runs below the national rate: 3.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rutherford County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford County | 2.83 | 34.8 | 12.4% | 35.2% | 7.7% | 1999 | $1,658 | 36.2% | 92.7% | 3.5% |
| Williamson County | 2.91 | 40.9 | 6.2% | 21.2% | 5.4% | 2001 | $2,202 | 63.1% | 96.3% | 2.5% |
| Cannon County | 2.58 | 41.8 | 12.7% | 21.6% | 10.8% | 1988 | $1,079 | 17.3% | 85.7% | 3.1% |
| DeKalb County | 2.44 | 41.7 | 9.8% | 27.4% | 12.6% | 1987 | $893 | 20.7% | 84.1% | 5.9% |
| Hickman County | 2.54 | 42.6 | 13.5% | 20.8% | 11.9% | 1988 | $955 | 13.9% | 86.1% | 2.8% |
| White County | 2.51 | 43.3 | 9.5% | 23.1% | 9.1% | 1983 | $831 | 14.8% | 84.4% | 6.1% |
| Van Buren County | 2.49 | 45.2 | 7.4% | 13.6% | 12.0% | 1978 | $701 | 13.7% | 86.3% | 2.3% |
| Cumberland County | 2.26 | 51.4 | 7.9% | 19.8% | 10.6% | 1993 | $965 | 18.3% | 90.7% | 4.9% |
| Roane County | 2.44 | 46.3 | 9.0% | 21.9% | 10.9% | 1981 | $867 | 22.0% | 89.9% | 4.9% |
| Loudon County | 2.46 | 48.6 | 7.6% | 19.7% | 9.5% | 1989 | $1,058 | 29.3% | 89.5% | 2.7% |
| Gibson County | 2.52 | 39.8 | 13.4% | 31.2% | 10.7% | 1978 | $954 | 20.7% | 88.8% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Warren County, OH · Chesterfield County, VA · Clay County, MO · Clayton County, GA · Collier County, FL · Larimer County, CO · Alachua County, FL · St. Lucie County, FL · Stark County, OH · Thurston County, WA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rutherford County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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