HomeTennesseeRutherford County
Rutherford County, Tennessee: commercial real estate data.
Rutherford County, Tennessee had an estimated 376,996 residents on July 1, 2024, up 10.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 341,478, across 619 square miles. County output reached $27.63 bn in 2024, 6,285 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 260 7(a) approvals worth $142.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Rutherford County
How many people live in Rutherford County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024360,646
- Households129,431
- Average household size2.79
- Median household income$85,470
- Median age34.2
- Median gross rent$1,502 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$382,600
- Home value to household income4.5 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income21.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher35.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over229,632
- Population under 1889,103
- Share under 1824.7 percent
- Population 65 and over40,298
- Share 65 and over11.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64231,245
- Civilian labor force201,582
- Unemployment rate3.6 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over74.2 percent
- Rank by population among Tennessee counties5th of 95
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included207th of 3,222
Rutherford County is the 5th largest of 95 Tennessee counties by population. A median home costs 4.5 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.7 percent against 11.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Rutherford County
Is Rutherford County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024376,996
- Census 2020 base population341,478
- Population change since the 2020 census base10.40 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20247,347
- Births, 20244,508
- Deaths, 20242,539
- Natural change, 20241,969
- Net domestic migration, 20242,809
- Net international migration, 20242,557
- Total net migration, 20245,366
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202419,900
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents139th of 3,144
The county has grown 10.40 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Rutherford County
Where are people moving to Rutherford County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving12,905
- People arriving, from those returns23,827
- Tax returns filed by households leaving11,212
- Net household movement1,693
- Adjusted gross income arriving$804.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$153.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,365
- Average income of a leaving household$58,083
- Largest single originDavidson County (3,442 households)
- Largest single destinationDavidson County (2,180 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | 3,442 | 6,491 | $178.1 m |
| Williamson County | 635 | 1,227 | $56.1 m |
| Wilson County | 445 | 770 | $28.7 m |
| Bedford County | 341 | 615 | $17.0 m |
| Maury County | 232 | 379 | $14.7 m |
| Sumner County | 222 | 390 | $12.4 m |
| Coffee County | 213 | 350 | $11.2 m |
| Shelby County | 207 | 361 | $12.3 m |
Households arriving report $4,282 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Davidson County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Rutherford County
What is the Rutherford County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$27.63 bn
- County GDP, 2023$25.83 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.0 percent
- GDP change over five years47.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Tennessee areas BEA publishes6th of 95
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes209th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$76,612
Output grew 7.0 percent in the latest year and 47.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Rutherford County
Employment by industry in Rutherford County
- Covered employment, annual average149,355
- Establishments reporting8,776
- Average annual pay$63,681
- Average weekly wage$1,225
- Manufacturing, employment27,971
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$89,693
- Retail trade, employment16,874
- Retail trade, average annual pay$40,788
- Accommodation and food services, employment15,006
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$24,738
- Transportation and warehousing, employment13,475
- Transportation and warehousing, average annual pay$58,484
- Health care and social assistance, employment13,142
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment8,266
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27,971 | 378 | $89,693 |
| Retail trade | 16,874 | 1,018 | $40,788 |
| Accommodation and food services | 15,006 | 790 | $24,738 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13,475 | 394 | $58,484 |
| Health care and social assistance | 13,142 | 889 | $62,906 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 8,266 | 591 | $44,249 |
| Wholesale trade | 7,004 | 562 | $91,987 |
| Construction | 6,872 | 855 | $74,965 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 27,971 jobs, 18.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Rutherford County
How many businesses are in Rutherford County?
- Establishments, all industries6,285
- Employment at those establishments128,935
- Annual payroll$6.92 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents17.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Rutherford County
Building permits in Rutherford County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20243,420
- Declared construction value permitted$889.4 m
- Single family units authorized2,996
- Multifamily units authorized424
- Multifamily share of units12.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$260,071
- Units authorized per 1,000 households26.4
Single-family homes are 87.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Rutherford County
SBA loans in Rutherford County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded260
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$142.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$546,091
- Median 7(a) approval$196,250
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,379,520
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,367
- Jobs per approval9.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active58
- Distinct industries receiving approvals121
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms27
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter209
- Franchise loans62
- Franchise share of approvals23.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Automotive Repair (10)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (38)
- 504 approvals recorded23
- 504 gross approval dollars$25.1 m
- Average 504 approval$1,090,000
- Median 504 approval$786,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval10.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved9.9
- Most active CDCMid-Cumberland Area Development Corporation (12)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$167.1 m
The average approval of $546,091 sits well above the median of $196,250, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rutherford County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Rutherford County
Do SBA loans in Rutherford County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded41
- Paid in full32
- Charged off9
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans22.0 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure157
- Status: Cancelled41
- Status: Paid in full32
- Status: Charged off9
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed21
Of the 41 loans that have reached a final outcome, 22.0 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rutherford County
SBA lending by place in Rutherford County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending13
- Murfreesboro, approvals171
- Smyrna, approvals53
- La Vergne, approvals24
- Lascassas, approvals2
- Christiana, approvals2
- Arrington, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | 171 | $97,774,500 |
| Smyrna | 53 | $26,365,000 |
| La Vergne | 24 | $13,880,100 |
| Lascassas | 2 | $300,000 |
| Christiana | 2 | $275,000 |
| Arrington | 1 | $1,277,000 |
| Jeffersonville | 1 | $1,166,000 |
| Mufreesboro | 1 | $300,000 |
| 5 other borrower cities | 5 | $646,000 |
Murfreesboro accounts for 171 approvals against 53 in Smyrna. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Rutherford County
How large is Rutherford County?
- Land area619 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Tennessee counties8th of 95
- Width, east to west29.9 mi
- Height, north to south33.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land583
- Establishments per square mile10.15
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Rutherford County
Flood risk in Rutherford County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Rutherford County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 470165
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Rutherford County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Rutherford County (community 470165), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Rutherford County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Rutherford County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Rutherford County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024360,646
- Households129,431
- Average household size2.79
- Median household income$85,470
- Median age34.2
Common questions
Rutherford County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Rutherford County, Tennessee?
The Census Bureau estimates 376,996 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 360,646, in 129,431 households, ranking 5th of 95 Tennessee counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Rutherford County's population growing?
The population has grown 10.40 percent since the 2020 census base of 341,478, to 376,996 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 4,508 births against 2,539 deaths, with net migration of 5,366. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Rutherford County?
$85,470. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $382,600, which is 4.5 times income, and median gross rent is $1,502 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Rutherford County?
6,285 establishments, employing 128,935 people with an annual payroll of $6.92 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Rutherford County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 27,971 jobs, 18.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 149,355 jobs at an average annual pay of $63,681, or $1,225 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Rutherford County?
260 7(a) approvals totaling $142.0 m since FY2020, across 58 lenders, with a median approval of $196,250, plus 23 504 approvals worth $25.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Rutherford County get paid back?
Of the 41 loans that have reached a final outcome, 32 were paid in full and 9 charged off, a charge-off rate of 22.0 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Rutherford County?
3,420 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $889.4 m. Multifamily was 12.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Rutherford County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Rutherford County come from?
The largest single origin is Davidson County, with 3,442 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,365 against $58,083 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Rutherford County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Rutherford County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Rutherford County
Cities and places in Rutherford.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Rutherford County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | city | 161,445 | 171 | Wholly in this county |
| Smyrna | town | 56,692 | 53 | Wholly in this county |
| La Vergne | city | 40,243 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Christiana | CDP | 4,777 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Rockvale | CDP | 1,611 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Eagleville | city | 999 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Walterhill | CDP | 113 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 8 of the county's 260 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Rutherford County, the largest being Lascassas (2), Arrington (1), Jeffersonville (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
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