Most working residents leave Spindale for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Forest City (11%), Rutherfordton (8%) and Charlotte (8%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Forest City

11%

Rutherfordton

Charlotte

Shelby

6%Work in townlive and work in Spindale 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,072Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Spindale →

Health in Spindale

Health Grade D

Healthier than 6% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 29% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Carolina

20worse than NC

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 12 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▼ 5 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 4▼ 3 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

23.9%More older adults who have lost all their teethNC 13.9% · worse 13.6%More adults facing a utility shut-offNC 8.1% · worse 25.2%More adults facing food insecurityNC 15.2% · worse

Care nearby

Rutherford Regional Medical CenterRutherfordton · 2.4 mi · ER

Rutherford Health CenterSpindale · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Spindale · CMS · HRSAHealth in Spindale →

Natural hazards in Spindale

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 14% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Spindale flood?no paid flood claims on record 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Spindale MapSpindale vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Spindale →

Climate in Spindale

Full climate →

Spindale has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 30°, and about 5 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

54° / 32°Winter

72° / 47°Spring

88° / 65°Summer

72° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Spindale get?About 5 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 27, with the last in spring around Apr 11.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Spindale →

Schools in Spindale

All Spindale schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Spindale’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 51% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Spindale’s schools compare in NC →

DistrictRutherford County SchoolsSchools1

Spindale Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 337 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.