Carter County, KY Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Carter County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,362 | 4,499,518 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 64.0 | 111.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.41% | 0.30% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.1 | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 10,371 | 1,791,595 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Carter County declined by 2.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 26,515 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Carter County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Carter County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $50,455 | $62,784 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.70% | 4.94% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Carter County is about 20% lower than in Kentucky.
Housing
| Metric | Carter County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $59,515 | $126,174 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $701 | $933 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 78.4% | 68.3% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Carter County is about 7.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $701 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Carter County spend about 45 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 188 hours, about 7.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Carter County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.5 | 20.8 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 45.1 | 41.5 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 188 | 173 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,823 | $5,361 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 9.1% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,827 | 6,995 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 616 | 832 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kentucky:
Calloway County (13.4 min), McCracken County (14.0 min), Clinton County (15.3 min).
Slowest:
Owen County (37.1 min), Menifee County (36.6 min), Bracken County (33.6 min).
The average commute time in Carter County is 23 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Kentucky.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Carter County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Carter County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 24.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.50 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kentucky:
Fayette County (0.4), Oldham County (0.4), Campbell County (0.3).
Lowest:
Leslie County (0.1), Lee County (0.1), Elliott County (0.1).
Health
Carter County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Carter County | Kentucky Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.3 | 75.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 25.3% | 23.2% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 27.9% | 26.0% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kentucky:
Oldham County (0.8), Boone County (0.8), Scott County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.7), Bell County (0.7), McCreary County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Carter County, Kentucky.
What is the population of Carter County, Kentucky?
The population of Carter County, Kentucky is 26,362, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Carter County, Kentucky?
The population density of Carter County, Kentucky is 64.0 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Carter County, Kentucky?
The median household income in Carter County, Kentucky is $50,455, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Carter County, Kentucky?
The median home price in Carter County, Kentucky is $59,515, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Carter County, Kentucky?
The unemployment rate in Carter County, Kentucky is 4.1%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.