Data / Carter County / Profile

Carter County in figures

A profile of Carter County from official statistics: 24 figures in 6 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Carter County was 26,149 in 2025, down 0.2% from 2024, and the 44th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky.

Population26,1492025Down 0.2% from 2024The 44th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Median age41.4 years2024Down 0.4 years from 2023The 59th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Population aged 65 and over21.3%2025Up 0.4 percentage points from 2024The 36th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Foreign-born population share1.1%2024Up 0.1 percentage points from 2023
Population density24.7 inhabitants per km²2025Down 0.2% from 2024
Net domestic migration, July to June1112025, estimatedCompared with 52 in 2024
26.1K26.2K26.3K26.4K26.5K26.6K26.7K2020202120222023202420252020: 26,614 persons2021: 26,448 persons2022: 26,307 persons2023: 26,300 persons2024: 26,195 persons2025: 26,149 persons
Population, 2020 to 2025. persons. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for the United States, states and counties, 1 July (Population Estimates Program).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for the United States, states and counties, 1 July (Population Estimates Program); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population; U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex (cc-est agesex): residents aged 65 and over as a percentage of the total, 1 July; states and the nation summed from counties; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs; U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program resident population on 1 July divided by land area from the latest Census Gazetteer files, persons per km²; U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program: net domestic migration, states and counties, July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the reported year; vintage 2020 files for 2011 to 2020 and the latest 2020s vintage from 2021. Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Carter County was 6.5% (provisional) in August 2026, down 0.2 percentage points from August 2025, and tied for the 6th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky.

Unemployment rate6.5%August 2026, provisionalDown 0.2 percentage points from August 2025Tied for the 6th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Median household income$51,2352024Up 1.7% from 2023The 41st lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Per capita personal income$43,4722024Up 5.9% from 2023The 21st lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Poverty rate (US official measure)18.9%2024Down 0.3 percentage points from 2023
Gini index45.62024Down 3 points from 2023
56789102021-072022-042023-012023-102024-072025-042026-082021-07: 7.8 %2021-08: 6.8 %2021-09: 7.1 %2021-10: 5.9 %2021-11: 5.2 %2021-12: 6.6 %2022-01: 8.6 %2022-02: 9.1 %2022-03: 7.3 %2022-04: 5.8 %2022-05: 5.8 %2022-06: 8 %2022-07: 8.2 %2022-08: 7.2 %2022-09: 5.9 %2022-10: 5.6 %2022-11: 5.4 %2022-12: 7.3 %2023-01: 9.2 %2023-02: 8.7 %2023-03: 8 %2023-04: 6.4 %2023-05: 6.9 %2023-06: 8.8 %2023-07: 8.4 %2023-08: 7.4 %2023-09: 6.5 %2023-10: 5.9 %2023-11: 6.1 %2023-12: 7.5 %2024-01: 9.6 %2024-02: 9.6 %2024-03: 8.2 %2024-04: 6.9 %2024-05: 7.1 %2024-06: 8.2 %2024-07: 8.9 %2024-08: 7.6 %2024-09: 6.7 %2024-10: 6.5 %2024-11: 6.7 %2024-12: 7.4 %2025-01: 9.9 %2025-02: 8.9 %2025-03: 7.7 %2025-04: 6.1 %2025-05: 7 %2025-06: 7.9 %2025-07: 8 %2025-08: 6.7 %2025-09: 6.5 %2025-11: 5.7 %2025-12: 5.8 %2026-01: 7.6 %2026-02: 8.1 %2026-03: 6.6 %2026-04: 6 %2026-05: 6.8 %2026-06: 8.1 %2026-07: 7.9 %2026-08: 6.5 %
Unemployment rate, July 2021 to August 2026. %. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by county, not seasonally adjusted.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by county, not seasonally adjusted; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents; U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini index of household income inequality (coefficient multiplied by 100). Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in Carter County was $670.64 million in 2024, up 3% from 2023, and the 60th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky.

Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars$670.64 million2024Up 3% from 2023The 60th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
GDP per capita, US dollars$25,6972024Up 3.6% from 2023The 27th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Real GDP growth0.5%2024Down 2 percentage points from 2023Tied for the 36th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
30040050060070020012005200920132017202120242001: 322 USD million2002: 356.9 USD million2003: 373.1 USD million2004: 384 USD million2005: 408.7 USD million2006: 408.6 USD million2007: 406.6 USD million2008: 441.7 USD million2009: 437 USD million2010: 451.8 USD million2011: 463.2 USD million2012: 468.7 USD million2013: 488.6 USD million2014: 502.9 USD million2015: 520.6 USD million2016: 515.9 USD million2017: 520.3 USD million2018: 520.4 USD million2019: 515.2 USD million2020: 534.1 USD million2021: 556.8 USD million2022: 596.7 USD million2023: 651.3 USD million2024: 670.6 USD million
Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2024. USD million. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAGDP1: county GDP summary, current-dollar GDP (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions).

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAGDP1: county GDP summary, current-dollar GDP (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions); Invokely, GDP in current dollars (BEA SAGDP2 and CAGDP1) divided by mid-year population (BEA SAINC1 and CAINC1); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAGDP11: annual percent change in real GDP, all industry total, individual counties and county equivalents. Economy statistics and rankings

Prices and housing

Median home value in Carter County was $132,800 in 2024, up 5.3% from 2023, and the 47th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky.

Median home value$132,8002024Up 5.3% from 2023The 47th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
County house price annual change, sales and refinances0.35%2025Down 5.75 percentage points from 2024The 25th highest of 102 counties in Kentucky in 2022
Median gross rent (monthly)$7402024Up 5.6% from 2023Tied for the 48th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Homeownership rate (US, housing units)80%2024Up 1.6 percentage points from 2023
Housing units authorized by building permits32025, estimatedUp 200% from 2024
100K110K120K130K140K20212022202320242021: 106,500 USD2022: 122,300 USD2023: 126,100 USD2024: 132,800 USD
Median home value, 2021 to 2024. USD. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units; Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA developmental all-transactions county house prices, published annual percent change, nominal, not seasonally adjusted; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs; U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual county estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized, including imputation. Housing statistics and rankings

Business and tourism

Employer firms in Carter County were 316 in 2023, down 3.7% from 2022, and tied for the 47th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky.

Employer firms3162023Down 3.7% from 2022Tied for the 47th highest of 120 counties in Kentucky
Farms6812022No 2021 figure to compareThe 43rd highest of 120 counties in Kentucky
30032034036038019992003200720112015201920231999: 373 count2000: 375 count2001: 375 count2002: 380 count2003: 372 count2004: 374 count2005: 374 count2006: 374 count2007: 363 count2008: 355 count2009: 345 count2010: 349 count2011: 335 count2012: 323 count2013: 331 count2014: 353 count2015: 357 count2016: 369 count2017: 373 count2018: 332 count2019: 330 count2020: 330 count2021: 324 count2022: 328 count2023: 316 count
Employer firms, 1999 to 2023. count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties; U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Agriculture: number of farms, nation, states and counties (1997 to 2022). Companies statistics and rankings

Energy and environment

Median Air Quality Index (US EPA) in Carter County was 36 in 2025, down 1 point from 2024, and tied for the 15th highest of 36 counties in Kentucky in 2004.

Median Air Quality Index (US EPA)362025Down 1 point from 2024Tied for the 15th highest of 36 counties in Kentucky in 2004
Share of days with good air quality (US EPA AQI)89%2025Down 0.2 percentage points from 2024The 16th highest of 36 counties in Kentucky in 2004
Average annual temperature55.5 °F2025Down 2.1 °F from 2024Tied for the 16th lowest of 120 counties in Kentucky
30354045505520012005200920132017202120252001: 50 index2002: 51 index2003: 47 index2004: 43 index2005: 49 index2006: 43 index2007: 47 index2008: 48 index2009: 41 index2010: 47 index2011: 43 index2012: 43 index2013: 41 index2014: 39 index2015: 38 index2016: 38 index2017: 38 index2018: 35 index2019: 37 index2020: 33 index2021: 35 index2022: 39 index2023: 40 index2024: 37 index2025: 36 index
Median Air Quality Index (US EPA), 2001 to 2025. index. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA AirData annual AQI by county: median daily AQI.

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA AirData annual AQI by county: median daily AQI; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA AirData annual AQI by county: good days as a share of days with an AQI, calculated with stored counts; NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December average temperature, counties. Environment and emissions statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. U.S. Census Bureau. Annual estimates of the resident population for the United States, states and counties, 1 July (Population Estimates Program). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b01002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  3. U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex (cc-est agesex): residents aged 65 and over as a percentage of the total, 1 July; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/counties/asrh/cc-est2025-agesex-all.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b05002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  5. U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program resident population on 1 July divided by land area from the latest Census Gazetteer files, persons per km². https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  6. U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program: net domestic migration, states and counties, July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the reported year; vintage 2020 files for 2011 to 2020 and the latest 2020s vintage from 2021. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  7. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by county, not seasonally adjusted. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  8. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19013.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  9. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini index of household income inequality (coefficient multiplied by 100). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19083.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
  12. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAGDP1: county GDP summary, current-dollar GDP (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions). https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAGDP1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  13. Invokely calculation from GDP in current dollars (BEA SAGDP2 and CAGDP1) divided by mid-year population (BEA SAINC1 and CAINC1). https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#gdp_per_capita_usd. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  14. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAGDP11: annual percent change in real GDP, all industry total, individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAGDP11.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
  15. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25077.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  16. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). FHFA developmental all-transactions county house prices, published annual percent change, nominal, not seasonally adjusted. https://www.fhfa.gov/hpi/download/annual/hpi_at_county.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
  17. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25064.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  18. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
  19. U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual county estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/County/co2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
  20. U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
  21. Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Agriculture. Census of Agriculture: number of farms, nation, states and counties (1997 to 2022). Retrieved through Data Commons (datacommons.org). https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Retrieved through Data Commons (https://datacommons.org).
  22. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality System, AirData. EPA AirData annual AQI by county: median daily AQI. https://aqs.epa.gov/aqsweb/airdata/download_files.html#Annual. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  23. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality System, AirData. EPA AirData annual AQI by county: good days as a share of days with an AQI, calculated with stored counts. https://aqs.epa.gov/aqsweb/airdata/download_files.html#Annual. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  24. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December average temperature, counties. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/county/mapping. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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