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COUNTY

Carter County

Missouri · 5,418 residents (2025 est.) · 507.359 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 $50,000. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 10% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $159,400. The poverty rate of 20.8% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 29% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
10% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,297
−11%since 2000
from 5,941 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
10 / sq mi
−10%since 2009
from 12 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
38.9
Unchangedsince 2000
from 38.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,418 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K6K6K6K1990201020202024Carter County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(351)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.8%(201)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.6%(506)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(335)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.5%(342)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.9%(527)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.7%(622)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.1%(534)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.9%(787)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(650)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.3%(386)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.1%(56)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,000
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,863 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,032
+103%since 2000
from $13,349 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
29.8%
+20.9 ptssince 2009
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.8%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 25.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.444
+5%since 2010
from 0.424 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade26.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade15.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Information9.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services1.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration0.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$159,400
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$656
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $303 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
60.7%
−16.1 ptssince 2000
from 76.8% in 2000
39.3% rent
Vacancy rate
23.8%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.9%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.7%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
−1%since 2009
from 3.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
53
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Carter County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.7%(5,685)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(72)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.6%(4,903)
Black0.4%(22)
Hispanic / Latino2.3%(121)
Asian0%(2)
Other4.7%(249)
Diversity Score
18
+44%since 2009
from 12 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
2
−96%since 2020
from 40 in 2020
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
Mexican1.8%(94)
Peruvian0.3%(14)
Ecuadorian0.2%(13)
Asian origin
Thai0%(2)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
American17.1%(908)
German15.9%(843)
Irish10.9%(579)
English4.9%(262)
Polish2.7%(141)
French2.2%(119)
Scottish1.5%(79)
Scotch-Irish1.3%(68)
Swedish0.9%(49)
Italian0.9%(46)
Swiss0.8%(41)
Dutch0.5%(28)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.5%(25)
Danish0.4%(20)
Norwegian0.1%(4)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
10.1%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 10.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.6%
+14.0 ptssince 2000
from 66.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.8 min
+25%since 2000
from 19.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.6%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
14.6%
+6.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.4%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.2%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−4.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.0%
+2.3 ptssince 2011
from 53.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
20.2%
−42.1 ptssince 2009
from 62.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
52.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
13.1%
−35.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
28.6%
+7.7 ptssince 2012
from 20.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
14.6%
−68.4 ptssince 2013
from 83.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.1%
+23.2 ptssince 2017
from 59.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2016
from 98.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.6%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.2%(722)
Married47.2%(970)
Widowed2%(42)
Divorced15.6%(320)
Women 15+
Never married22.1%(483)
Married42.1%(920)
Widowed15.6%(340)
Divorced20.2%(442)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Carter County

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Pop 5,716
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Pop 5,677
Calhoun County
Pop 5,413
Woodruff County
Pop 5,710
Places similar to Carter County
Head to head

Compare Carter County to nearby counties

CARTER COUNTY VS
Ripley County
Income$42,037−16%
Home value$119,600−25%
Population10,717+98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER COUNTY VS
Shannon County
Income$55,222+10%
Home value$157,500−1%
Population7,285+34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER COUNTY VS
Reynolds County
Income$45,028−10%
Home value$151,700−5%
Population5,992+11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CARTER COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$47,226−6%
Home value$107,400−33%
Population10,782+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Carter County, Missouri?

Carter County, Missouri has about 5,297 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Carter County, Missouri earns about $50,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Carter County, Missouri expensive?

In Carter County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $159,400, and the typical rent is about $656 a month.

How educated are people in Carter County, Missouri?

About 10.1% of adults age 25 and over in Carter County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Carter County, Missouri?

About 20.8% of people in Carter County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Carter County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Carter County, Missouri has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 218 residents, a change of about -4 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9601Census Tract 9602
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 63937ZIP 63965ZIP 63943ZIP 63941
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Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Carter County, Missouri: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy