Rutherford is a small suburb in Nelson with a population of 2,547 and a median age of 44. Median personal income is $41K per year. The main ethnic groups are European, Asian, Māori. Nelson population estimates moved +0.2% in the year ended June 2024, after averaging +0.9% a year from 2018 to 2023, which should be read as a broader regional movement backdrop rather than suburb-level migration precision. The resident employment base moved from 1,449 in 2018 to 1,383 in 2023 (-4.6%), which should be read as a census-to-census employment backdrop rather than a live jobs series. Te Waihanga's December 2025 Pipeline snapshot tracked over 12,000 NZ infrastructure initiatives, with more than 2,700 under construction and transport taking 52% of projected 2026 pipeline spend, which should be read as a broader national delivery backdrop rather than a suburb-specific project list.
Median weekly rent in Rutherford is $650 (650 houses, 111 units). This represents approximately 82% of median weekly personal income.
Livability indicators for Rutherford: NZDep decile 5 (moderate deprivation); 4 schools with avg EQI 423.
In 2026, Rutherford recorded 1 building approval (0 houses, 1 unit), up 0% year-on-year.