Carter County, Kentucky
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $51,235
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 26,149
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 26,098
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 26,631
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 26,630
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -1.8%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -2.0%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 26,627
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 27,720
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 5.3%
Persons under 18 years, percent 22.1%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 20.3%
Female persons, percent 50.7%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 97.4%
Black alone, percent(a) 0.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 0.3%
Asian alone, percent(a) 0.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) Z
Two or More Races, percent 1.1%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 1.3%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 96.4%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 1,500
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 1.1%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 12,442
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 80.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $132,800
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,273
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $398
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $740
Building Permits, 2025 3
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 10,794
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.39
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 91.3%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 1.2%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 88.4%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 81.3%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 84.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 15.9%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 14.4%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 6.8%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 48.8%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 42.9%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 38,847
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 62,210
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 15,681
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 363,659
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $13,805
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 30.4
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $51,235
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $27,994
Persons in poverty, percent 18.9%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 389
Total employment, 2023 5,029
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 177,973
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 -4.3%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 1,717
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 249
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 65.0
Population per square mile, 2010 67.7
Land area in square miles, 2020 409.50
Land area in square miles, 2010 409.50
FIPS Code 21043