There are 28 cities in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Note: As defined by the US Census Bureau, a city's official boundaries often extend miles beyond the city itself and may even cross county lines. As such, several thousand US cities officially exist in two or more counties (and therefore appear on multiple counties' lists of cities.)
City | Rank | 2024 Population | 2020 Population | Annual Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | 1 | 22,027 | 21,958 | 0.08% | 985 | 22.4 | City |
| Kings Mountain | 2 | 12,036 | 11,182 | 1.8% | 857 | 14.0 | City |
| Black Mountain | 3 | 8,563 | 8,430 | 0.39% | 1,276 | 6.7 | Town |
| Marion | 4 | 7,433 | 7,673 | -0.8% | 1,244 | 6.0 | City |
| Forest City | 5 | 7,391 | 7,375 | 0.05% | 863 | 8.6 | Town |
| Swannanoa | 6 | 5,465 | 4,360 | 1.17% | 857 | 6.4 | CDP |
| Spindale | 7 | 4,305 | 4,220 | 0.49% | 796 | 5.4 | Town |
| Rutherfordton | 8 | 3,700 | 3,638 | 0.41% | 893 | 4.1 | Town |
| Lake Lure | 9 | 1,393 | 1,368 | 0.43% | 106 | 13.2 | Town |
| Columbus | 10 | 1,108 | 1,063 | 1% | 295 | 3.8 | Town |
| Montreat | 11 | 924 | 903 | 0.54% | 339 | 2.7 | Town |
| West Marion | 12 | 844 | 1,100 | -4.09% | 569 | 1.5 | CDP |
| Ellenboro | 13 | 743 | 727 | 0.54% | 587 | 1.3 | Town |
| Light Oak | 14 | 675 | 873 | -0.15% | 470 | 1.4 | CDP |
| Kingstown | 15 | 668 | 660 | 0.3% | 380 | 1.8 | Town |
| Fallston | 16 | 638 | 628 | 0.31% | 295 | 2.2 | Town |
| Polkville | 17 | 525 | 515 | 0.38% | 282 | 1.9 | City |
| Lattimore | 18 | 428 | 407 | 1.18% | 418 | 1.0 | Town |
| Cliffside | 19 | 393 | 707 | -3.68% | 169 | 2.3 | CDP |
| Bostic | 20 | 363 | 355 | 0.55% | 389 | 0.9 | Town |
| Ruth | 21 | 358 | 346 | 0.84% | 844 | 0.4 | Town |
| Caroleen | 22 | 331 | 447 | -6.5% | 299 | 1.1 | CDP |
| Glenwood | 23 | 327 | 302 | 7.92% | 203 | 1.6 | CDP |
| Henrietta | 24 | 321 | 455 | -3.02% | 550 | 0.6 | CDP |
| Waco | 25 | 316 | 312 | 0.32% | 377 | 0.8 | Town |
| Casar | 26 | 306 | 302 | 0.33% | 175 | 1.8 | Town |
| Mooresboro | 27 | 301 | 295 | 0.33% | 170 | 1.8 | Town |
| Chimney Rock Village | 28 | 140 | 139 | 0% | 42 | 3.4 | Village |
Note: City markers shown outside the county boundary mean that a part of the city extends into this county, but is primarily located in an adjacent county.
Shelby is the largest city in Rutherford County.
Chimney Rock Village is the smallest city in Rutherford County.
There are 28 cities in Rutherford County, North Carolina.