Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 438, settled in 1901.
Cliffside’s average commute is 11 minutes, against 24 minutes in North Carolina’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Only 4 of the 291 North Carolina towns we compare have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Cliffside. Cliffside Public School is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cliffside has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper and 4 maps from 1959 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cliffside is unincorporated, so Rutherford County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Cliffside.
Its public schools are run by the Rutherford County Schools. Enrollment at Cliffside’s public school: 188 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cliffside Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 188 | B |
NCES · EDFacts
61% of Cliffside’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by strong winds at 16%. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 69% of U.S. communities. One declared disaster, in 2024, has brought federal aid to Cliffside households.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
A winter brings about 5 inches of snow, with January nights at 29° and July afternoons at 90°.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Employers in Cliffside added 23 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 195. 7.1% of Cliffside residents live below the poverty line, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 13% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. In Cliffside, the income of the median household is $51,000. The top destinations are Forest City (12%), Charlotte (10%) and Shelby (6%).
| Cliffside | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 13% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
For adults in Cliffside, the share who sleep under 7 hours is 33%. In Cliffside, 27% of adults have been diagnosed with depression, and 16% report frequent physical distress.
| Cliffside | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 25% | 23% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 17% |
| What stands out | Cliffside | NC |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.8% | 13.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.8% | 7.1% |
| More smokers | 18.4% | 13.5% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Honeysuckle Park | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
3 within 15 miles of the center of Cliffside
About 3 of every 100 Cliffside residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
Unincorporated community in North Carolina, United States
Cliffside is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 530 as of the 2020 census. Cliffside has a post office with ZIP code 28024. U.S. Route 221 Alternate and North Carolina Highway 120 pass through the community.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cliffside has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.