At a Glance
Median Income
$48,125
$22,367 per capita
Home Value
$122,000
Zillow: $182,806
Median Rent
$707/mo
39.3% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
13.6%
82.9% high school+
Unemployment
3.9%
29.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.8%
22.4% smoking rate
How Ruth Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Ruth's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Ruth a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Ruth residents earn a median household income of $48,125 , which is 36% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $22,367. The unemployment rate stands at 3.9% (8% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 29.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,498 business establishments, including 113 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Ruth is $122,000 , 57% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $182,806. Median rent is $707/month, with 39.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.3 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1977.
Education
13.6% of adults in Ruth hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(60% below the national average).
82.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Ruth has an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C).
Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 78°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 52.1 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population526
Median Age41.6 yrs
Density1,252/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born4.9%
Veterans4.4%
Economy
C+
Median Income$48,125
Per Capita$22,367
Unemployment3.9%
Poverty29.4%
County GDP$2,490M
Avg Weekly Wage$925
Housing
A+
Home Value$122,000
Rent$707
Ownership76.1%
Zillow$182,806
Housing Units276
Rent Burden39.3%
Health
Obesity41.8%
Diabetes13.7%
Smoking22.4%
Heart Disease8.3%
Premature Death13,778/100K
Climate
Avg Temp59°F
Rain52.1 in/yr
Elevation969 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+13.6%
High School+82.9%
Graduate+6.2%
School Score5.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 74% / D 26%
Commute23 min
Broadband86.9%
Internet Speed26 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries3
Did You Know?
The median home in Ruth was built in 1977.
The nearest airport is Asheville Regional (34 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.470 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
24.3% of the population has a disability.
There are 113 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.