Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 35 min6:10 am – 8:45 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 44 min7:32 am – 5:16 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People375 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 61.1106 householdsMedian household income $73,929Median home value $317,50056% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,675 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting5.9% unemployment rate44% of adults are in the labour force, 143 employedMain industries: hospitality, food and recreation 38%, education and health care 31%, manufacturing 16%Average commute 26 minutes93% drive alone, 7% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages26% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher86% finished high school, 2% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 100%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 87°F, lows 68°FColdest month January: highs 49°F, lows 30°F47 in of rain a year, on about 77 dayswettest month AugustSnow is rare33 days above 90°F, 69 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Hickory Faa Ap station, 8 mi away; snow from Rhodhiss Hydro Plt
Nearby landmarksNonamereservoir · 1.2 miRhodhiss Lakelake · 2.2 miSmith Mountainpeak · 2.8 miMineral Springs Mountainpeak · 3.1 miMcCorkle Lakelake · 4.3 miCaldwell Community College and Technical Institutecollege · 7.5 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsTown of Valdese - McGalliard Falls Parkrecreation area · 2.5 miSpring Parkpark · 2.9 miSouth Mountains State Parkstate park · 9.8 mi · 21,329 acresJohns River Game Landstate conservation land · 7.9 mi · 6,448 acresWilderness Gateway State Trailstate park · 11.4 mi · 485 acresLake James State Parkstate park · 19.0 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes6 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.2 on 5 Jun 199844 mi away, near Mooresville, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.0 on 15 Dec 201421 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowBurke County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsIce storm Relatively HighLightning Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality69% of days had good air in 2025239 of 347 days measured108 moderate daysMedian index 42, worst day 88main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Catawba County, NC, 19 mi away
Internet at home87% of households have a broadband subscription68% have cable, fibre or DSL19% rely on a mobile data plan alone13% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Rutherford Collegeserves 2,083 people from surface water purchased1 health-based violation since 2021latest Jul 2024: haloacetic acids (HAA5), maximum contaminant levelSource: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation1,229 ft375 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalUniversity of North Carolina Health Blue Ridge Hospital7.4 miPost officeRutherford College Post Officeunder a mileTown hallRutherford College Town Hallunder a milePoliceValdese Police Department2.2 miFire stationLovelady Volunteer Fire and Rescue Departmentunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 highHighJimmy Draughn High School1.5 miCollegeCaldwell Community College and Technical Institute7.5 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT50 miInterstateI-401.1 miUS highwayUS 70under a mileAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS39 miCoachHickory (App State)Sunway Charters9.0 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28671 ZIP area.
