1st Advantage MortgageCarter County households have a median income of $50,135 and median rent of $739 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Tennessee license first.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Carter County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Carter County
- Paychecks and income spread in Carter County
- Employment and commuting in Carter County
- The counties around Carter County
- Carter County towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Carter County
- People and households in Carter County
- Before borrowing in Carter County
- Tennessee rules that apply in Carter County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Carter County
Carter County is home to about 56,712 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 95 county-level areas in Tennessee. It covers 341 square miles of land, or about 166 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Johnson City, TN metropolitan area. Elizabethton is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 14,374 people (25% of the county total).
Rent, home values and ownership in Carter County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $739 in Carter County versus $1,189 statewide. By the Census definition, 36% of Carter County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,200, about 3.4 times the median household income. 75% of Carter County households own their home and 25% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1977.
| Cost | Carter County | Tennessee figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $739/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,200 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 10% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Paychecks and income spread in Carter County
The median household income in Carter County is $50,135; statewide it is $69,595, so Carter County runs 28% below Tennessee as a whole. That places it 81st among Tennessee's 95 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Carter County | +/- vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.7% | +10.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.6% | -6.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Carter County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. 17.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.8%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.453 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Carter County median.
Employment and commuting in Carter County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 13%. Compared with Tennessee, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 22%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 83% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 4.6% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Where residents work | Carter County | Difference from Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | +0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -2.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.5% | +0.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Carter County
Sullivan County is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Unicoi County, is 21 miles off. All of the six report a higher median household income than Carter County; Washington County is highest at $62,809 and Unicoi County lowest at $52,218. The list crosses into North Carolina, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County | - | $50,135 | $739/mo | 75% |
| Sullivan County, TN | 18 mi | $58,807 | $889/mo | 72% |
| Avery County, NC | 19 mi | $61,428 | $773/mo | 83% |
| Johnson County, TN | 19 mi | $53,129 | $674/mo | 77% |
| Mitchell County, NC | 19 mi | $57,602 | $813/mo | 76% |
| Washington County, TN | 21 mi | $62,809 | $1,005/mo | 65% |
| Unicoi County, TN | 21 mi | $52,218 | $750/mo | 73% |
Carter County towns compared
10 Census places fall mainly inside Carter County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 27,692 residents, leaving about 51% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $62,917 at the median in Watauga, $37,444 in Central. Live in one of these Carter County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethton | city | 14,374 | $46,975 | $740 | 7 mi |
| Valley Forge | CDP | 2,136 | $54,631 | $699 | 4 mi |
| Pine Crest | CDP | 2,029 | $53,537 | $700 | 10 mi |
| Central | CDP | 1,938 | $37,444 | $952 | 10 mi |
| Hunter | CDP | 1,918 | $51,815 | $756 | 8 mi |
| Hampton | CDP | 1,883 | $39,028 | $676 | 3 mi |
| Biltmore | CDP | 1,846 | $52,917 | $781 | 8 mi |
| Roan Mountain | CDP | 797 | $55,625 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Watauga | city | 644 | $62,917 | $588 | 11 mi |
| Butler | CDP | 127 | $64,188 | n/a | 7 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Carter County
Carter County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $4,178 gross per month ($50,135 / 12)
- 18% goes to median rent ($739)
- $765: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Carter County
21% of Carter County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 11.7%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Residents | Carter County | Tennessee | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.6% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.5% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.7% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Carter County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 5.2% |
Before borrowing in Carter County
A few patterns in the Carter County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Carter County. For the 12% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Carter County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
Tennessee rules that apply in Carter County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Carter County borrowers answers to the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Tennessee guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Carter County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Tennessee license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Carter County household make?
About $50,135 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% below the Tennessee median.
What do renters pay in Carter County?
$739 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
I own my home in Carter County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 75% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Carter County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Elizabethton, Valley Forge, Pine Crest, Central, Hunter and 5 more.
Is the fit check different in Carter County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.