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Carter County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Carter County, Tennessee has a population of 56,712, the 28th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $50,135 and the median home value is $168,200. The poverty rate is 17.1%.

Carter County Quick Facts

Population 56,712
Median Household Income $50,13590% MOE ±$3,158
Median Home Value $168,20090% MOE ±$4,365
Poverty Rate 17.1%90% MOE ±2.0 pts
Unemployment Rate 6.2%90% MOE ±1.2 pts
Median Age 45.9 years90% MOE ±0.3 years
Homeownership Rate 75.2%90% MOE ±2.3 pts
Affordability Ratio 3.4x
Bachelor's Degree+ 20.6%90% MOE ±1.5 pts
Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 89.5%
Cities/Places 9
Population 56,712 28th of 95
Median Income $50,135 28% lower than state
Poverty Rate 17.1%
Unemployment 6.2%

How Carter County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric2015–20192020–2024Change
Population56,43356,712+0.5%
Median household income$46,880$50,135No clear change (+6.9%)
Median home value¹$150,885$168,200+11.5%
Median gross rent$778$739No clear change (-5.0%)
¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Carter
$50,135
TN
$69,595
National
$80,734

Median Home Value

Carter
$168,200
TN
$286,700
National
$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 25.1%
$25K-$50K 24.8%
$50K-$100K 30.0%
$100K+ 20.1%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.6%
$10K-$15K
5.7%
$15K-$20K
7.2%
$20K-$25K
5.6%
$25K-$30K
4.7%
$30K-$35K
4.9%
$35K-$40K
6.0%
$40K-$45K
5.7%
$45K-$50K
3.5%
$50K-$60K
8.8%
$60K-$75K
8.5%
$75K-$100K
12.7%
$100K-$125K
8.3%
$125K-$150K
4.7%
$150K-$200K
4.5%
$200K+
2.6%

Employment

6.2% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
52.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.2%
Renter 24.8%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.4x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $739/mo 17.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18
17.7%
18-34
19.9%
35-54
24.8%
55-74
28.1%
75+
9.6%

Race & Ethnicity

  • White: 92.8%
  • Black: 1.9%
  • Hispanic: 2.5%
  • Asian: 0.1%
  • Other: 0.1%

Diversity Index

14out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

  • < HS: 10.5%
  • HS Diploma: 38.5%
  • Some College: 20.9%
  • Associate's: 9.5%
  • Bachelor's: 13.4%
  • Graduate+: 7.3%

Cities & Places in Carter County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Elizabethton14,374$46,97518.8%$172,900
Valley Forge2,136$54,63115.1%$158,100
Pine Crest2,029$53,5379.7%$196,600
Central1,938$37,44411.7%$151,800
Hunter1,918$51,81513.7%$169,500
Hampton1,883$39,02819.9%$98,200
Biltmore1,846$52,9179.6%$125,300
Roan Mountain797$55,6251.7%$166,200
Butler127$64,1884.7%N/A

Explore Tennessee Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Carter County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 56,712. It is the 28th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carter County is 45.9 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carter County is $50,135. This is 28% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.1%. This is 24% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. This is 33% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $168,200. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 75.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carter County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.5%.

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 Tennessee 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, Tennessee?

Carter County has a population of 56,712, making it the 28th most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Carter County?

The median household income in Carter County is $50,135 with a poverty rate of 17.1%.

How many cities are in Carter County, Tennessee?

Carter County contains 9 Census-designated places.