Rutherford is a census-designated place (CDP) in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States.

[3] It is bordered to the north by Lower Paxton Township and to the west by Lawnton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2), all land.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,859 people, 1,625 households, and 1,116 families residing in the CDP.

27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.