1st Advantage MortgageIn Carter County, Missouri, the typical household earns $50,000 a year and the typical rent is $656. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Missouri before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Carter County
- Household income in Carter County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Carter County
- Work, industries and travel time in Carter County
- How Carter County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Carter County
- Room for a loan payment in Carter County
- More Carter County figures
- Reading the Carter County data as a borrower
- Checking a lender's license in Missouri
- Checklist for Carter County applicants
- More guides for Carter County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Carter County
Carter County is home to about 5,297 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 107th most populous of 115 county-level areas in Missouri. It covers 507 square miles of land, or about 10 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Carter County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 5 Census places inside Carter County, Van Buren leads by population with about 1,161; 3 of the 5 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Carter County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Household income in Carter County
Half of Carter County households take in less than $50,000 a year and half take in more, 29% below the Missouri median of $70,702. In the state ranking that is 100th of 115.
| Band | Carter County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +12.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +3.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.9% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 0.6% | -8.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of Carter County households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 20.8%, 8 points higher than the state's 12.6%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.444 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Carter County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $656 in Carter County versus $1,033 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. With a median value of $159,400, a typical Carter County house costs 3.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 61% of homes.
| Carter County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $656/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $159,400 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.6% | 5.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 24% | 11% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Work, industries and travel time in Carter County
Manufacturing employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 17%. Manufacturing stands out: 26% of workers here, versus 11% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Carter County. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Carter County workers | vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 26.1% | +14.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.1% | -7.3 pts |
| Construction | 15.1% | +8.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +1.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +3.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Carter County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Carter County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 21 to 34 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $42,037 in Ripley County to $55,222 in Shannon County; 1 of these neighbors top Carter County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County | - | $50,000 | $656/mo | 61% |
| Ripley County, MO | 21 mi | $42,037 | $654/mo | 79% |
| Shannon County, MO | 28 mi | $55,222 | $574/mo | 80% |
| Reynolds County, MO | 29 mi | $45,028 | $655/mo | 80% |
| Wayne County, MO | 29 mi | $47,226 | $665/mo | 75% |
| Oregon County, MO | 31 mi | $43,069 | $639/mo | 75% |
| Butler County, MO | 34 mi | $49,089 | $780/mo | 65% |
Places inside Carter County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Carter County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 2,348 people, so roughly 56% of residents live outside any named place. No Carter County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Buren | town | 1,161 | $20,560 | $313 | 6 mi |
| Ellsinore | city | 678 | $52,010 | $688 | 11 mi |
| Grandin | city | 352 | $29,250 | $541 | 10 mi |
| Fremont | CDP | 107 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Hunter | CDP | 50 | $41,298 | n/a | 7 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Carter County
How much room does a median Carter County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,167 a month: gross income for a household at the Carter County median
- Median rent: $656, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,500 total minus rent leaves $844
- $1,136: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $656, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Carter County figures
Degree holders: 10% of adults over 25. About 15% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Carter County | All of Missouri | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 10.1% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.4% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Carter County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 26.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.6% |
Reading the Carter County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Carter County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 15% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Manufactured homes. 21% of Carter County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Missouri
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Carter County, check the Missouri Division of Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Checklist for Carter County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Carter County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Carter County-area credit union.
- A Missouri license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Carter County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carter County a high-income county?
Its $50,000 median ranks 100th of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Carter County?
$656 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Carter County?
By population: Van Buren, Ellsinore, Grandin, Fremont, Hunter. The county has 5 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Carter County or elsewhere in Missouri, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Carter County residents?
The Missouri Division of Finance licenses consumer lenders in Missouri; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.