Carter County, MO 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 | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,739 | 6,177,646 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 11.3 | 88.7 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -2.33% | 0.26% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.7 | 37.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 1,965 | 2,484,450 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Carter County declined by 10.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 5,269 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 | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,069 | $69,051 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.47% | 4.84% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Carter County is about 35% lower than in Missouri.
Housing
| Metric | Carter County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $116,666 | $136,017 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $661 | $995 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.1% | 67.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Carter County is about 14.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $661 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Carter County spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 172 hours, about 7.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Carter County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.6 | 21.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 41.2 | 42.1 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 172 | 175 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,323 | $5,435 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,757 | 7,545 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 165 | 923 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Missouri:
Saline County (11.5 min), Nodaway County (11.9 min), Adair County (12.1 min).
Slowest:
Bollinger County (33.1 min), Dallas County (31.6 min), Caldwell County (31.0 min).
The average commute time in Carter County is about the same as in Missouri.
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 | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 28.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.66 | 2.42 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Missouri:
St. Louis County (0.4), Platte County (0.4), Boone County (0.4).
Lowest:
Bollinger County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Ripley County (0.2).
Health
Carter County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Carter County | Missouri Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.9 | 76.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 18.8% | 19.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 23.2% | 22.8% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Missouri:
St. Charles County (0.8), Platte County (0.8), Boone County (0.8).
Lowest:
Scotland County (0.7), Ripley County (0.7), Pemiscot County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Carter County, Missouri.
What is the population of Carter County, Missouri?
The population of Carter County, Missouri is 5,739, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Carter County, Missouri?
The population density of Carter County, Missouri is 11.3 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, Missouri?
The median household income in Carter County, Missouri is $45,069, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Carter County, Missouri?
The median home price in Carter County, Missouri is $116,666, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Carter County, Missouri?
The unemployment rate in Carter County, Missouri is 2.9%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.