County profile · Tennessee
Carter County, TN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Carter County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 57,361
- +1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 24,425
- Median household income
- $50,135
- +31.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $168,200
- Jobs located here
- 12,579
- Highest market score
- 82
- Insurance agencies, #176 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
An estimated 57,361 people live in Carter County, in 24,425 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Carter County grew 1.7%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Carter County is $50,135 a year, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Carter County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 137, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (49).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Carter County are for insurance agencies (82), gas stations (70) and real estate agents and brokers (68). Carter County ranks #176 of 2,272 scored counties for insurance agencies.
Carter County is part of the Johnson City metro area. For its number of households, Carter County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (23% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (75% 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 | 82 | #176 of 2,272 | 21 | 8.6 | $3.1M | 247 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 70 | #403 of 2,358 | 27 | 11.1 | $2.8M | 118 | 24 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 68 | #258 of 2,176 | 19 | 7.8 | Index only | 304 | 6 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 68 | #421 of 2,210 | 17 | 7.0 | $2.2M | 252 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 67 | #448 of 2,087 | 12 | 4.9 | $3.1M | 248 | 5 |
| Real estate | 66 | #330 of 2,229 | 25 | 10.2 | Index only | 291 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 66 | #356 of 1,485 | 5 | 2.0 | $3.4M | 125 | 4 |
| Auto repair and car care | 66 | #507 of 2,401 | 73 | 29.9 | $310K | 116 | 17 |
| Physical therapy | 62 | #380 of 1,422 | 5 | 2.0 | $4.5M | 187 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 62 | #663 of 2,405 | 145 | 59.4 | $504K | 136 | 65 |
| Spas and skin care | 61 | #474 of 1,769 | 11 | 4.5 | $1.6M | 184 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 61 | #697 of 2,378 | 48 | 19.7 | $472K | 106 | 11 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 59 | #562 of 1,889 | 8 | 3.3 | $9.1M | 220 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 59 | #692 of 2,200 | 21 | 8.6 | $813K | 93 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 59 | #732 of 2,339 | 34 | 13.9 | $522K | 121 | 5 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 58 | #669 of 2,063 | 10 | 4.1 | $7.3M | 197 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 57 | #607 of 1,771 | 18 | 7.4 | $1.7M | 99 | 23 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 56 | #554 of 1,493 | 11 | 4.5 | $2.7M | 93 | 17 |
| Home repair trades | 56 | #736 of 2,057 | 22 | 9.0 | $2.6M | 107 | 24 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 56 | #900 of 2,394 | 70 | 28.7 | $321K | 211 | 46 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 56 | #902 of 2,405 | 91 | 37.3 | $803K | 121 | 26 |
| Chiropractors | 54 | #613 of 1,490 | 6 | 2.5 | $3.7M | 157 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 54 | #778 of 1,886 | 14 | 5.7 | $1.6M | 163 | 14 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 53 | #985 of 2,385 | 66 | 27.0 | $269K | 126 | 10 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 51 | #717 of 1,461 | 9 | 3.7 | $1.9M | 75 | 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 51 | #826 of 1,707 | 14 | 5.7 | $4.1M | 86 | 9 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 51 | #1,101 of 2,222 | 24 | 9.8 | $3M | 100 | 36 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 50 | #831 of 1,656 | 11 | 4.5 | $2M | 115 | 22 |
| Convenience stores | 50 | #1,130 of 2,261 | 24 | 9.8 | $5.4M | 68 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | 49 | #724 of 1,472 | 7 | 2.9 | $542K | 80 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 49 | #1,048 of 2,070 | 15 | 6.1 | $8.6M | 93 | 8 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 49 | #1,254 of 2,402 | 50 | 20.5 | $2.6M | 76 | 11 |
| Electricians | 47 | #647 of 1,160 | 5 | 2.0 | $11.5M | 96 | 15 |
| Pizza | 46 | #1,185 of 2,090 | 18 | 7.4 | $4.1M | 80 | 36 |
| Gyms | 45 | #1,084 of 1,792 | 9 | 3.7 | $1.3M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | 36 | #994 of 1,356 | 9 | 3.7 | $2M | 105 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 36 | #1,608 of 2,088 | 19 | 7.8 | $616K | 93 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | 32 | #1,100 of 1,328 | 11 | 4.5 | $1.6M | 97 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 24 | #1,212 of 1,334 | 8 | 3.3 | $1.5M | 73 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.6 | $5.7M | 184 | 6 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.6 | $7.5M | 73 | 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.6 | $5.7M | 226 | 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $7.6M | 300 | 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $2.4M | 242 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | Index only | 40 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $10M | 156 | 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | Index only | 269 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $7.5M | 239 | 4 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $5.7M | 126 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $19.1M | 226 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $18.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $11.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $37.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $22.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 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 | $22.7M | $928 | 97 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $75.8M | $3,102 | 120 |
| Food away from home | $73.1M | $2,992 | 74 |
| Groceries | $129.2M | $5,291 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $17.8M | $727 | 72 |
| Child care and other personal services | $7.3M | $298 | 51 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $11.7M | $479 | 49 |
| Medical and dental services | $22.5M | $920 | 71 |
| Pets | $17.1M | $699 | 77 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $37.7M | $1,545 | 75 |
| Vehicle insurance | $65.3M | $2,672 | 137 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $57.4M | $2,351 | 78 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $29.9M | $1,224 | 87 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $314.7M | $12,883 | 77 |
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
- 57,361+1.7% since 2020
- Households
- 24,425
- Median age
- 45.2
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 341 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 166
- Median household income
- $50,135+31.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $66,526
- Median home value
- $168,200
- Jobs located here
- 12,579
- Daytime population
- 45,703Residents 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 Tennessee 8
- Washington County, TN136,261 people
- Unicoi County, TN17,756 people
- Sullivan County, TN160,624 people
- Johnson County, TN18,196 people
- Greene County, TN71,628 people
- Hawkins County, TN57,964 people
- Hancock County, TN6,852 people
- Cocke County, TN36,813 people
Questions
How fast is Carter County, TN growing?
Population estimates put Carter County at 57,361 people in 2025, up 1.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 24,425 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Carter County, TN spend?
Households in Carter County spend about $314.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $129.2M on groceries and $75.8M on gasoline and other fuels. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Carter County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 137, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (49).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Carter County, TN?
Of the business types scored in Carter County, insurance agencies (82), gas stations (70) and real estate agents and brokers (68) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #176 of 2,272 scored counties.
How does Carter County, TN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Carter County is $50,135, 38% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $168,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (23% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (75% 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. 39 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.