9 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest City | 1 | 7,395 | 7,375 | 0.05% | 863 | 8.57 | Town |
| Spindale | 2 | 4,326 | 4,220 | 0.49% | 800 | 5.41 | Town |
| Rutherfordton | 3 | 3,716 | 3,638 | 0.43% | 897 | 4.14 | Town |
| Lake Lure | 4 | 1,399 | 1,368 | 0.43% | 106 | 13.17 | Town |
| Ellenboro | 5 | 747 | 727 | 0.54% | 591 | 1.26 | Town |
| Cliffside | 6 | 377 | 707 | -4.07% | 162 | 2.33 | CDP |
| Bostic | 7 | 365 | 355 | 0.55% | 391 | 0.93 | Town |
| Henrietta | 8 | 311 | 455 | -3.12% | 533 | 0.58 | CDP |
| Caroleen | 9 | 308 | 447 | -6.95% | 278 | 1.11 | CDP |
Forest City is the largest city in Rutherford County, with a population of 7,395.
Caroleen is the smallest city in Rutherford County.
There are 9 cities in Rutherford County, North Carolina.