Rutherford County
TN · Pop. 351,591 · Urban County
Rutherford County is an urban county in Tennessee, spanning 619 square miles with 351,591 residents at a density of 568 people per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, soybeans, corn. A median home price of $346,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.51% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 192-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.9°F and average winter lows of 27.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 52.7 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is 1.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 192-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.51% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 98.8% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 1.3 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 2.9% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- At 568 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Rutherford County, TN is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 55/100
- Median home price
- $346k
- Property tax
- 0.51%
- Growing season
- 192 days (zone 7b)
- Annual rainfall
- 52.7"
- Broadband
- 98.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, 1.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Rutherford County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Rutherford County?
- Rutherford County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 192-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.9°F, and average winter lows of 27.3°F. The established crops are hay, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $346,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.51%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.8% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is 1.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.
Explore Tennessee Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Tennessee
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The closest counties to Rutherford County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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