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Rutherford College, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Burke County County

3.3 /5.0
B Good
1,327 Population 574/sq mi density
$63,000 Median Income $31,346 per capita
$196,600 Home Value $241,497 Zillow
$1,028 Median Rent 31.7% income on rent
58°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
90 Violent Crime/100K 1,723 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$63,000 median income, 1.2% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$196,600 home value, $1,028/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
90 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.3 / 5.0
28.3% bachelor's degree or higher
Rutherford College enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 58°F (14°C). Winters average 39°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 51.5 inches. The area receives 4.5 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

39°F Jan (4°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average57.9°F
7% above US avg
January Average39°F (4°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,218 ft (371 m)
Area2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²)
Population Density574/sq mi
Coordinates35.7516°N, 81.5270°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyBurke County County
Nearest AirportFoothills Regional (MRN)
7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 51.5"
36% above US avg
Snowfall 4.5"
Wettest Month (Mar) 4.88"
Driest Month (Dec) 3.70"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score70.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability67.8 / 100
Community Resilience30.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

28 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.4. Most recent: M2.7 on Aug 14, 2025.

Feb 12, 1994 10 km NNW of Abingdon, Virginia M3.4 124 km
Jun 26, 1995 6 km NNW of Trout Dale, Virginia M3.4 111 km
Jun 4, 2023 4 km NNW of West Canton, North Carolina M3.2 123 km
Jun 5, 1998 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina M3.2 71 km
Jul 7, 1995 3 km NW of Mountain City, Tennessee M3.0 87 km
Jan 1, 1993 4 km SSW of Spruce Pine, North Carolina M3.0 52 km
Aug 4, 2007 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M3.0 59 km
Aug 25, 2013 3 km NNE of Blowing Rock, North Carolina M2.9 48 km
Aug 14, 2009 4 km ENE of Nickelsville, Virginia M2.9 135 km
Mar 6, 2006 3 km W of Burnsville, North Carolina M2.8 75 km
Feb 12, 2021 8 km SW of Banner Hill, Tennessee M2.8 93 km
May 23, 2023 4 km N of West Canton, North Carolina M2.8 122 km
Aug 14, 2025 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina M2.7 78 km
Jul 6, 2023 5 km S of Hillsville, Virginia M2.7 129 km
Mar 21, 2004 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina M2.7 55 km
Aug 30, 2010 7 km ENE of Mountain City, Tennessee M2.7 84 km
Jun 10, 2018 2 km NE of Hays, North Carolina M2.7 69 km
Aug 17, 2021 6 km N of Morganton, North Carolina M2.7 15 km
Jul 8, 2023 Virginia-North Carolina border region M2.6 130 km
Feb 4, 2021 1 km SSW of Sparta, North Carolina M2.6 90 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

2 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Fran (1996, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1996 Fran Category 2 263 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 123 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

296 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 11 fatalities, 292 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1998 EF4 19 km 0
May 5, 1989 EF4 83 km 2
May 5, 1989 EF4 32 km 4
Mar 27, 1994 EF3 79 km 0
Jul 10, 1980 EF3 89 km 0
May 26, 2022 EF2 57 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 65 km 0
Feb 6, 2020 EF2 92 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 73 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 12 km 0
Oct 23, 2017 EF2 96 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 67 km 0
May 24, 2017 EF2 87 km 0
Mar 3, 2012 EF2 94 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 11 km 0
Jan 11, 2012 EF2 51 km 0
Apr 27, 2011 EF2 82 km 2
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 23 km 0
Oct 26, 2010 EF2 34 km 0
Mar 28, 2010 EF2 99 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BRUSHY RIDGE (12,405 ac, 2000).

Year Name Acres Distance
2000 BRUSHY RIDGE 12,405 35 km
2016 PARTY ROCK 8,572 72 km
2007 LINVILLE COMPLEX (DOBSON KNOB) 7,151 36 km
2016 CHESTNUT KNOB 6,418 19 km
1985 UNNAMED 4,610 7 km
2022 LOST BEAR RX FY2022 4,276 62 km
2017 WHITE CREEK 4,166 34 km
2016 CLEAR CREEK 3,493 53 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,976 32 km
2000 TIPTON HILL 2,661 75 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,242 94 km
2013 LOST BEAR EAST 2,167 61 km
2007 UNNAMED 2,026 99 km
2008 SUNRISE 1,906 38 km
2015 UNNAMED 1,879 41 km
2018 UNNAMED 1,812 56 km
2016 RAILROAD GRADE 2016 1,790 75 km
2013 CALIFORNIA CREEK 1,758 95 km
2016 TOMBSTONE 1,747 29 km
2017 DOBSON KNOB 1,720 43 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 39°F (4°C) 4.0 in Coldest
February 41°F (5°C) 4.0 in
March 49°F (9°C) 4.9 in Wettest
April 57°F (14°C) 3.8 in
May 65°F (18°C) 4.6 in
June 72°F (22°C) 4.6 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.2 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.1 in
September 69°F (20°C) 4.2 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.9 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in
December 41°F (5°C) 3.7 in Driest

Rutherford College has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 39°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 49.7 inches, with March being the wettest month (4.9") and December the driest (3.7").

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