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Staley vs Ruth

137 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.4× in Ruth) and property tax bill (+23% in Ruth).

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Staley, NCHomes around $265KNorth Carolina · 456 people

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Ruth, NCA regional job hubNorth Carolina · 510 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

StaleyHomes around $265K

Housing$265K typical home21% below the NC typical home All about Staley →

RuthA regional job hub

Work371 jobsbased in Ruth, a regional job hub Housing$183K typical home45% below the NC typical home All about Ruth →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker7.4×

Ruth is more of a job hub

Ruth 2.65Staley 0.36

Property tax bill+23%

Tax bills are bigger in Ruth

Ruth $1,174Staley $953

Average commute6 min

Ruth has the shorter commute

Staley 30 minRuth 25 min

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $460 more a month in Staley

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Staley$1,550/mo

Typical home $265K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.72% · or rent about $869/mo · Housing →

Ruth$1,090/mo

Typical home $183K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.85% · or rent about $675/mo · Housing →

The difference: $460 a month, about $5,500 a year, between Staley and Ruth.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

StaleyRuth

Snow a year2″5″

January low30°F —

July high89°F —

Growing season (days)220d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)34th 22nd

Outdoors & history

StaleyRuth

Archive photos—3

Community

StaleyRuth

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

137 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

StaleyNC RuthNC

Staley ↔ Ruth137 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs North Carolina average

StaleyRuth

People

Population 456Lowest 510Highest

Median age 34.6±7.2Lowest 12% below NC 35±14.1Highest 10% below NC

Ruth and Staley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 18.6%±6Lowest NC: 21.8% 22.4%±7.8Highest NC: 21.8%

Ruth and Staley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 7.7%±3.8Lowest NC: 17.2% 14.5%±5.7Highest NC: 17.2%

Ruth and Staley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.3%Lowest NC: 35.7% 14.3%Highest NC: 35.7%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.7%±4.5Lowest NC: 6.4% 5.5%±4.8Highest NC: 6.4%

Ruth and Staley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $80,250±$37kHighest 11% above NC $51,250±$20kLowest 29% below NC

Staley and Ruth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $132,500±$42kLowest 54% below NC $138,300±$44kHighest 52% below NC

Ruth and Staley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $869±$199Highest 29% below NC $675±$349Lowest 45% below NC

Staley and Ruth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $953Lowest 50% below NC $1,174Highest 38% below NC

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 26.3%±58.1Lowest NC: 48.9% 64.6%±34.2Highest NC: 48.9%

Ruth and Staley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 11.2%Lowest NC: 13% 35.7%Highest NC: 13%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 74.7%Lowest NC: 66.6% 75.3%Highest NC: 66.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1983Lowest 8 yrs older than NC 1985Highest 6 yrs older than NC

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 21% above NC 25 minLowest about the NC average

Work from home 9%±9.3Highest NC: 16.3% 1%±2.5Lowest NC: 16.3%

Staley and Ruth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 2.9%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 22.8 miHighest 13.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.36Lowest 2.65Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Asheboro (15%)Forest City (16%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RuthFew work in Staley

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 4%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 37.3Lowest 52.2Highest

North Carolina average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Staley neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Staley’s Town Square.

Ruth neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ruth’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Staley and Ruth

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Towns like Staley

Peachland443 people · $135K homes

Cameron364 people · $184K homes

Ossipee795 people · $126K homes

Catawba628 people · $163K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.