Carter County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Carter County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 56,462. It is the 27th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carter County is 45.8 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carter County is $48,435. This is 28% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 38% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.0%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 6.8%. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $157,200. Housing costs are 39% lower than the state median of $256,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carter County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.4%. The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

20.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.