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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Carter County

Kentucky · 26,627 residents · 409.497 sq mi
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The short version

Carter County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,492. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $109,500. The poverty rate of 24.9% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,627
−1%since 2000
from 26,889 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
42.6
+19%since 2000
from 35.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K25K26K27K28K1990201020202024Carter County
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.6%(1,504)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.3%(1,675)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.4%(1,700)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(1,654)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.9%(1,569)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.6%(2,811)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.9%(3,175)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.5%(3,597)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.2%(3,776)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.7%(3,107)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.1%(1,620)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.6%(439)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,492
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,427 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,672
+54%since 2000
from $13,442 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
24.3%
+7.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.9%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 22.3% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade9.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance9.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 10%
Professional, scientific, technical6.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services2.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, food2.2%
US avg: 2%
Construction2.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$109,500
+55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$585
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $365 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
75.7%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 81.0% in 2000
24.3% rent
Afford Score
2.8
+30%since 2009
from 2.1 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carter County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(26,494)
Black0.1%(34)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(158)
Asian0.1%(29)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.5%(25,425)
Black0.8%(209)
Hispanic / Latino1%(254)
Asian0.2%(58)
Other2.4%(645)
Segregation Score
33
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.1%(287)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English32.5%(8,774)
American16.5%(4,445)
German7.4%(1,997)
Irish5.4%(1,448)
Scottish1.6%(438)
Welsh1.5%(416)
Dutch1.3%(356)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(345)
Polish0.5%(125)
Swedish0.4%(112)
British0.4%(103)
French0.3%(91)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.3%(71)
Italian0.2%(62)
Hungarian0.2%(41)
Norwegian0.1%(14)
Egyptian0%(13)
Lebanese0%(12)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.8%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
79.9%
+15.5 ptssince 2000
from 64.4% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.4 min
+42%since 2000
from 22.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 77.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.4%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.1%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 8.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
44.6%
−9.0 ptssince 2011
from 53.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.4%
−29.8 ptssince 2009
from 58.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
9.9%
−73.2 ptssince 2013
from 83.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25.4%(2,675)
Married61.1%(6,433)
Widowed3.5%(366)
Divorced10%(1,050)
Women 15+
Never married16.7%(1,836)
Married59.9%(6,567)
Widowed12%(1,313)
Divorced11.4%(1,252)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Carter County

Chattooga County
Pop 25,300
Franklin County
Pop 25,948
Tattnall County
Pop 24,376
Toombs County
Pop 27,545
Places similar to Carter County
Head to head

Compare Carter County to nearby counties

CARTER COUNTY VS
Elliott County
Income$45,776+16%
Home value$123,500+13%
Population7,265−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER COUNTY VS
Greenup County
Income$60,751+54%
Home value$134,000+22%
Population35,213+35%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER COUNTY VS
Boyd County
Income$61,118+55%
Home value$130,700+19%
Population47,751+83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER COUNTY VS
Rowan County
Income$54,321+38%
Home value$161,800+48%
Population24,476−6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carter County, Kentucky?

Carter County, Kentucky has about 26,627 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Carter County, Kentucky?

The typical household in Carter County, Kentucky earns about $39,492 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carter County, Kentucky expensive?

In Carter County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $109,500, and the typical rent is about $585 a month.

How educated are people in Carter County, Kentucky?

About 13.8% of adults age 25 and over in Carter County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carter County, Kentucky?

About 24.9% of people in Carter County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carter County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Carter County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,287 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 9606.02Census Tract 9605Census Tract 9607Census Tract 9602Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9603Census Tract 9604Census Tract 9606.01
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 41143ZIP 41164ZIP 41146ZIP 41132ZIP 41142ZIP 41181
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →