Carter County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Carter County, Kentucky has a population of 26,341, the 43rd most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $51,235 and the median home value is $132,800. The poverty rate is 19.2%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Carter County Quick Facts
How Carter County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,515 | 26,341 | -0.7% |
| Median household income | $50,389 | $51,235 | +1.7% |
| Median home value | $126,100 | $132,800 | +5.3% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Carter County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayson | 3,778 | $27,542 | 37.9% | $136,900 |
| Olive Hill | 1,636 | $70,682 | 19.8% | $136,700 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Carter County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 26,341. It is the 43rd most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Carter County is 41.4 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Carter County is $51,235. This is 20% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 37% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.2%. This is 19% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $132,800. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $205,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Carter County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 17% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Carter County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.9%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 5.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
16.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Carter County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kentucky and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Carter County, Kentucky?
Carter County has a population of 26,341, making it the 43rd most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Carter County?
The median household income in Carter County is $51,235 with a poverty rate of 19.2%.
How many cities are in Carter County, Kentucky?
Carter County contains 2 Census-designated places.