County profile · Kentucky
Carter County, KY market data
How Carter County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 26,149
- −1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 10,794
- Median household income
- $51,235
- +47.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $132,800
- Jobs located here
- 6,014
- Highest market score
- 76
- Insurance agencies, #305 of 2,272 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Carter County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Carter County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Carter County has an estimated 26,149 people and 10,794 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Carter County declined 1.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in Carter County is $51,235, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 47.5%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Carter County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 146, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (52).
Of the business types scored in Carter County, insurance agencies (76), real estate businesses (62) and restaurants and cafes (56) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #305 of 2,272 scored counties.
Carter County is part of the Huntington-Ashland metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (76% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Carter County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Carter County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 76 | #305 of 2,272 | 9 | 8.3 | $3.4M | 272 | 7 |
| Real estate | 62 | #480 of 2,229 | 10 | 9.3 | Index only | 327 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 56 | #899 of 2,405 | 64 | 59.3 | $524K | 141 | 32 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 54 | #976 of 2,405 | 36 | 33.4 | $932K | 140 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 52 | #914 of 2,176 | 8 | 7.4 | Index only | 325 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 48 | #978 of 1,889 | 5 | 4.6 | $6.7M | 162 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #1,298 of 2,210 | 14 | 13.0 | $1.2M | 140 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #1,462 of 2,200 | 10 | 9.3 | $793K | 90 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 40 | #1,483 of 2,088 | 9 | 8.3 | $616K | 93 | 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 40 | #1,666 of 2,401 | 46 | 42.6 | $236K | 88 | 15 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 40 | #1,670 of 2,394 | 59 | 54.7 | $173K | 113 | 10 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 37 | #1,494 of 2,087 | 13 | 12.0 | $1.3M | 104 | 5 |
| Gas stations | 35 | #1,796 of 2,358 | 25 | 23.2 | $1.4M | 60 | 19 |
| Tire shops | 34 | #1,166 of 1,530 | 6 | 5.6 | $1.8M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 34 | #1,878 of 2,378 | 28 | 25.9 | $387K | 87 | 13 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 31 | #1,918 of 2,402 | 23 | 21.3 | $2.5M | 75 | 8 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 30 | #1,845 of 2,222 | 16 | 14.8 | $2.1M | 69 | 17 |
| Gyms | 27 | #1,560 of 1,792 | 6 | 5.6 | $923K | 71 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 27 | #1,586 of 1,769 | 8 | 7.4 | $1M | 115 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 26 | #1,902 of 2,261 | 13 | 12.0 | $4.5M | 57 | 4 |
| Pizza | 24 | #1,936 of 2,090 | 16 | 14.8 | $2.1M | 41 | 17 |
| Hair salons | 24 | #2,143 of 2,339 | 20 | 18.5 | $403K | 94 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 24 | #2,239 of 2,385 | 36 | 33.4 | $224K | 105 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 21 | #1,207 of 1,356 | 5 | 4.6 | $1.6M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 18 | #1,416 of 1,472 | 6 | 5.6 | $254K | 37 | 5 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 12 | #1,624 of 1,656 | 10 | 9.3 | $1M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 10 | #1,269 of 1,302 | 5 | 4.6 | $2M | 65 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $8.4M | 227 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.7 | $14.5M | 156 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $3.4M | 142 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $3.6M | 117 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $3.4M | 345 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $1.8M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $2.7M | 161 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.8 | $3.4M | 141 | 6 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $6.7M | Too few | 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $5.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.9 | $4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $3.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $25.7M | Too few | 9 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $25.7M | Too few | 16 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $13.5M | Too few | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $13.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $7.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | Index only | Too few | 4 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.9 | $10.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 7 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
Household spending in Carter County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $10.8M | $1,004 | 105 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $36M | $3,338 | 129 |
| Food away from home | $33.6M | $3,110 | 76 |
| Groceries | $58.1M | $5,381 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $8.1M | $747 | 74 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.6M | $330 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.5M | $513 | 52 |
| Medical and dental services | $10.2M | $943 | 73 |
| Pets | $7.9M | $735 | 81 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $17.2M | $1,597 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $30.7M | $2,848 | 146 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $25.7M | $2,379 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $13.5M | $1,250 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $141.6M | $13,121 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Carter County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 26,149−1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 10,794
- Median age
- 41.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 80%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.2
- Land area
- 410 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 64
- Median household income
- $51,235+47.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $69,045
- Median home value
- $132,800
- Jobs located here
- 6,014
- Daytime population
- 23,638Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Carter County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Carter County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Kentucky 8
- Elliott County, KY7,307 people
- Greenup County, KY35,501 people
- Boyd County, KY47,911 people
- Rowan County, KY24,578 people
- Lewis County, KY12,965 people
- Lawrence County, KY16,077 people
- Morgan County, KY14,053 people
- Johnson County, KY22,334 people
Questions
How fast is Carter County, KY growing?
Population estimates put Carter County at 26,149 people in 2025, down 1.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 10,794 households. Median household income rose 47.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Carter County, KY spend?
Households in Carter County spend about $141.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $58.1M on groceries and $36M on gasoline and other fuels. Set against the U.S., households in Carter County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 146, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (52).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Carter County, KY?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Carter County are for insurance agencies (76), real estate businesses (62) and restaurants and cafes (56). Carter County ranks #305 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
How does Carter County, KY compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Carter County is $51,235 a year, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $132,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Carter County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (76% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 27 of the 56 business types have a score in Carter County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Carter County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Carter County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Carter County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.