Carter County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Carter County is located in Missouri with a total population of 5,269. It is the 107th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carter County is 39.6 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carter County is $45,083. This is 35% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 43% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.9%. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $147,600. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 64.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carter County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

13.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.2%.