State rank#5 of 95
Smallest county360,646 residentsShelby County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 47149
Rutherford County, Tennessee
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population360,646
Household income$85,470
Unemployment2.8%
Life expectancy76 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Rutherford County has 360,646 residents and ranks #5 by population among Tennessee county equivalents. Median household income is $85,470. The annual-average unemployment rate is 2.8%. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Tennessee
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Rutherford County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Rutherford County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is unemployment rate.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $382,600 median home value and $1,502/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $85,470, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Rutherford County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, life expectancy, and median household income. College attainment is 35.8% and life expectancy is 76 years.
Potential advantages
- Unemployment rate: 2.8%, rank #2 of 95 available Tennessee counties.
- Life expectancy: 76 years, rank #5 of 95 available Tennessee counties.
- Median household income: $85,470, rank #6 of 95 available Tennessee counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,502/mo, rank #93 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $382,600, rank #91 of 95; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 2,287 residents, rank #31 of 89; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Tennessee
Rank and range use only counties in Tennessee with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$85,470
$85,470; above the state county median of $59,341.
State rank #6 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$382,600
$382,600; above the state county median of $204,700.
State rank #91 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,502/mo
$1,502/mo; above the state county median of $839/mo.
State rank #93 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
2.8%
2.8%; below the state county median of 3.8%.
State rank #2 of 95 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
35.8%
35.8%; above the state county median of 18.5%.
State rank #6 of 95 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
76 years
76 years; above the state county median of 71.9 years.
State rank #5 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
19.8%
19.8%; below the state county median of 22.5%.
State rank #19 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
10%
10%; below the state county median of 11.9%.
State rank #13 of 95 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,287 residents
1 per 2,287 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,761 residents.
State rank #31 of 89 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 736 residents
1 per 736 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,595 residents.
State rank #20 of 91 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Rutherford County FAQ
Is Rutherford County a good place to live?
Rutherford County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing unemployment rate, life expectancy, and median household income. College attainment is 35.8% and life expectancy is 76 years.
What should I know before moving to Rutherford County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $382,600 median home value and $1,502/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $85,470, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Rutherford County?
Rutherford County has 360,646 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Rutherford County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 47149; the parent state FIPS is 47.
What is the median household income in Rutherford County?
The ACS median household income is $85,470.
How much does housing cost in Rutherford County?
Housing benchmarks are $382,600 median home value and $1,502/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $85,470, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Rutherford County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 2.8%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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