Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 33 min6:13 am – 8:45 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 46 min7:32 am – 5:18 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People3,665 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 46.41,623 householdsMedian household income $40,868Median home value $164,000Median rent $735 a month47% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,411 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting15.0% unemployment rate48% of adults are in the labour force, 1,333 employedMain industries: education and health care 35%, manufacturing 17%, retail 10%Average commute 27 minutes79% drive alone, 8% car-pool, 11% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages15% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher82% finished high school, 5% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 89°F, lows 67°FColdest month January: highs 52°F, lows 27°F52 in of rain a year, on about 80 dayswettest month June5 in of snow a year, on about 2 days45 days above 90°F, 99 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Forest City 8 W station, 5 mi away; snow from Forest City 6 Sw
Nearby landmarksIsothermal Community Collegecollege · 1.8 miRutherfordton Learning Centercollege · 2.2 miIsothermal Community College Lakelake · 1.6 miFraternal Order of Eagles Lakelake · 1.6 miGreen Riverriver · 7.6 miPiney Mountainpeak · 8.1 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsCharles Deviney Parkpark · under a mileRutherford County - Isothermal Community College Trailsrecreation area · 1.7 miBobs Creek State Natural Areastate park · 15.9 mi · 3,706 acresChimney Rock State Parkstate park · 17.1 mi · 7,095 acresCowpens National Battlefieldhistoric site · 16.5 mi · 800 acresSouth Mountains State Parkstate park · 18.7 mi · 21,329 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes5 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19700 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 3.5 on 5 May 198128 mi away, near Barker Heights, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 3.0 on 4 Aug 200713 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowRutherford County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsStrong wind Relatively HighIce storm Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality55% of days had good air in 2025201 of 365 days measured164 moderate daysMedian index 48, worst day 93main pollutant: fine particles (PM2.5)Source: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Spartanburg County, SC, 30 mi away
Internet at home89% of households have a broadband subscription73% have cable, fibre or DSL13% rely on a mobile data plan alone10% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Forest Cityserves 21,521 people from surface waterNo health-based violations since 20214 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation1,005 ft306 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalRutherford Regional Medical Center2.5 miPost officeSpindale Post Officeunder a mileTown hallSpindale Town Hallunder a milePoliceSpindale Police Departmentunder a mileFire stationSpindale Fire Rescueunder a mileSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi4 schools1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 otherElementarySpindale Elementary Schoolunder a mileMiddleR - S Middle School1.3 miSchoolWord of Faith Christian School1.4 miCollegeIsothermal Community College1.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL35 miMajor airportCharlotte Douglas International Airport CLT56 miInterstateI-2618 miUS highwayUS 221 Altunder a mileAmtrakGastonia, NC GAS43 miCoachForest CitySunway Charters4.4 miTransit2 stops within a mileRutherford County Transit (RCT)Sources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28160 ZIP area.
