Carter County, Oklahoma Income Statistics
Carter County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Carter County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Carter County | Oklahoma Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $61,138 | $65,606 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,101 | $51,752 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.4% | 3.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.1% | 9.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Carter County is about 7% lower than in Oklahoma. Income has been growing slower in Carter County (3.4%/yr) than in Oklahoma (3.9%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Carter County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Oklahoma average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Carter County, Oklahoma grew by 60.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $61,138 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Carter County
| Metric | Carter County | Oklahoma Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.544 | 0.553 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,237 | $60,162 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,827 | $46,815 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 32.8% | 22.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Carter County, it is 0.544, lower than Oklahoma's 0.553, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 49% more than women's income in Carter County, Oklahoma. Over a 35-year career, a 49% wage gap accumulates to roughly $714,350 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Carter County, Oklahoma has widened from about 24% to 33% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2016, and was narrowest at 24% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $11,519 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Carter County widened by 8.4 points while Oklahoma's narrowed by 2.1 points.
Employment
| Metric | Carter County | Oklahoma Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.0% | 9.4% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 862 people are unemployed in Carter County, Oklahoma.
The average commute time in Carter County is 16 minutes, shorter than the 18 minutes in Oklahoma.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Carter County, Oklahoma has fallen from 5.0% to 3.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.9% in 2013.
Carter County, OK Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Carter County, OK is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 48,553 residents against a local median of 13,753. The measure that sets Carter County, OK apart most is income growth: 3.4%/yr, 22% below the local median of 4.3%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.8% against a local median of 4.7%, 19% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Carter County, OK is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 1.2%/yr on income growth, so Carter County, OK sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Carter County, OK has the 5th highest income growth of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County, OK | 48,553 | $61,138 #3/6 | 3.4%/yr #5/6 | 3.8% #3/6 | 0.544 #4/6 |
| Love County, OK | 10,261 | $66,059 | 4.3%/yr | 5.2% | 0.552 |
| Murray County, OK | 13,753 | $66,725 | 3.2%/yr | 2.5% | 0.510 |
| Garvin County, OK | 25,859 | $58,594 | 4.4%/yr | 3.4% | 0.544 |
| Marshall County, OK | 15,792 | $57,597 | 3.7%/yr | 4.7% | 0.536 |
| Jefferson County, OK | 5,379 | $48,786 | 4.3%/yr | 5.2% | 0.557 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Carter County, Oklahoma has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Oklahoma, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Carter County, Oklahoma.
How Rich Is Carter County, Oklahoma?
Carter County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $61,138, about 7% lower than the Oklahoma average of $65,606.
How has median household income changed in Carter County, Oklahoma?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Carter County, Oklahoma rose 60%, from $38,148 to $61,138. Over the same years, income here outpaced Oklahoma as a whole: +60% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Carter County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Carter County, Oklahoma was $58,583, up 5% from $56,058 in 2022. The Oklahoma median that year was $63,960.
What was the median household income in Carter County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Carter County, Oklahoma was $51,285. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $61,138.
Is it hard to find a job in Carter County, Oklahoma?
Unemployment in Carter County, Oklahoma is only 3.8%, well below the Oklahoma rate of 4.9%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Carter County, Oklahoma?
The Gini coefficient in Carter County is 0.544. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Carter County, Oklahoma?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Carter County, Oklahoma has widened from about 24% to 33% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2016, and was narrowest at 24% in 2012. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $11,519 since 2009.
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