Carter County, Oklahoma Demographics 2026
Carter County, Oklahoma has a population of 48,555, the 17th most populous county in Oklahoma. The median household income is $60,723 and the median home value is $168,500. The poverty rate is 16.2%.
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 | 48,255 | 48,555 | +0.6% |
| Median household income | $58,856 | $60,723 | +3.2% |
| Median home value | $153,500 | $168,500 | +9.8% |
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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Carter County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore | 24,877 | $53,900 | 17.4% | $170,000 |
| Lone Grove | 5,125 | $74,265 | 14.4% | $204,900 |
| Healdton | 2,495 | $51,286 | 22.4% | $66,400 |
| Wilson | 1,725 | $60,625 | 17.4% | $102,500 |
| Dickson | 1,231 | $81,250 | 11.1% | $201,300 |
| Springer | 854 | $58,625 | 17.2% | $183,900 |
| Gene Autry | 224 | $63,125 | 22.6% | $96,700 |
| Tatums | 164 | $43,750 | 12.8% | $73,800 |
| Ratliff City | 95 | $29,375 | 15.8% | $112,500 |
| Fox | 63 | $63,194 | 14.3% | $114,100 |
Explore Oklahoma Rankings
Population Overview
Carter County is located in Oklahoma with a total population of 48,555. It is the 17th most populous county out of 77 in Oklahoma. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Carter County is 38.3 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Carter County is $60,723. This is 7% lower than the state median of $65,039. It is also 25% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 23% lower than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $168,500. Housing costs are 16% lower than the state median of $199,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Carter County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 65.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Carter County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.6%.
Education
19.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 28.3%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.0%.
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 Oklahoma 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, Oklahoma?
Carter County has a population of 48,555, making it the 17th most populous county in Oklahoma.
What is the median income in Carter County?
The median household income in Carter County is $60,723 with a poverty rate of 16.2%.
How many cities are in Carter County, Oklahoma?
Carter County contains 10 Census-designated places.