Carter County, TN 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 | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 56,750 | 7,021,394 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 163.3 | 166.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.06% | 0.92% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 46.3 | 37.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 24,188 | 2,766,521 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Carter County declined by 4.2% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 56,462 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 | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,727 | $67,486 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.62% | 5.42% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.8% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Carter County is about 28% lower than in Tennessee.
Housing
| Metric | Carter County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $139,814 | $235,307 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $737 | $1,121 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 74.1% | 67.0% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Carter County is about 15.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $737 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Carter County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 183 hours, about 7.6 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Carter County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.9 | 22.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 43.9 | 44.7 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 183 | 186 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,669 | $5,774 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 11.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 8,711 | 9,259 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,102 | 1,225 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Tennessee:
Dyer County (16.2 min), Fentress County (16.2 min), Henry County (16.7 min).
Slowest:
Trousdale County (37.0 min), Houston County (36.2 min), Cannon County (33.2 min).
The average commute time in Carter County is about the same as in Tennessee.
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 D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Carter County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 27.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.27 | 2.47 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Tennessee:
Williamson County (0.4), Davidson County (0.3), Knox County (0.3).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.1), Van Buren County (0.1), Lauderdale County (0.1).
Health
Carter County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Carter County | Tennessee Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 75.0 | 74.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 21.3% | 19.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 26.4% | 25.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Tennessee:
Williamson County (0.8), Rutherford County (0.8), Wilson County (0.8).
Lowest:
Clay County (0.8), Lake County (0.8), Hancock County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Carter County, Tennessee.
What is the population of Carter County, Tennessee?
The population of Carter County, Tennessee is 56,750, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Carter County, Tennessee?
The population density of Carter County, Tennessee is 163.3 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, Tennessee?
The median household income in Carter County, Tennessee is $48,727, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Carter County, Tennessee?
The median home price in Carter County, Tennessee is $139,814, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Carter County, Tennessee?
The unemployment rate in Carter County, Tennessee is 6.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.