Carter County Area Home Supply Charts

This page looks at a variety of Carter County Kentucky housing market data taken from the most recent 2020 American Community Survey census data. Housing units are structures such as a single family home, apartment community, mobile home park, public housing, etc. where a person or family live and live separately from other residents of the building. Figure 1 shows the total number of housing units for each city. Carter County depicts it has a Housing Units of 12,503 which is the third most housing units of all other counties in the greater Carter County region.

Figure 2 illustrates the housing density in the Carter County housing market as measured by housing units per square land mile (includes single family homes, apartments, etc.) Carter County depicts it has a Housing Density of 30.5 which is in the middle range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest housing density in the area is Boyd County which shows a density of 135.6 (approximately 4.4 times bigger). Comparing housing density to the United States average of 38.9, Carter County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Kentucky, housing density of 50.4, Carter County is approximately three-fourths the size.

In Figure 4, Carter County area change in the number of housing units and is a forward gauge (along with population change) for any potential housing shortage. Carter County shows it has a Housing Unit Change of 1.6% which is in the center range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest change in the housing units in the area is Rowan County which shows a housing units of 2.3% (47.9% larger). Comparing change in the housing units to the United States average of 5.7%, Carter County is approximately a third the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Kentucky, change in the housing units of 2.9%, Carter County is approximately half the size.

Figure 5 shows the percentage of rental property based on that they are occupied by renters as a percent of the total number of households in the community (including homes, apartments, etc.) Carter County shows it has a Renter Percent of 22.6% which is the second smallest when sorted by renter percent of all the other counties in the local area. Figure 6 illustrates the total number of housing units that are occupied by owners. it has a Owner Percent of 77.4% which is the second most owner percent of all the counties in the greater Carter County region.

Carter County Home Cost Charts

Looking at the housing data provided in Figure 7, the average Carter County home price is illustrated for this community and a useful analysis of affordable housing. Carter County depicts it has a Median Home Value of $95,000 which is in the mid range of other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest median home price in the area is Rowan County which depicts a home price of $124,200 (30.7% larger). Figure 8 provides aggregate comparative data for the Carter County Kentucky metro area in terms of the median housing rental rate, apartment rent, etc. Carter County indicates it has a Median Gross Rent of $579 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest rental rates in the area is Greenup County which indicates a rental rates of $704 (21.6% larger). Comparing rental rates to the United States average of $1,062, Carter County is approximately half the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Kentucky, rental rates of $763, Carter County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 9 provides the frequency distribution of home prices for the area and is useful for understanding affordable housing fund. Carter County has the percentage of home price worth less than $50,000 the second smallest in order of home price worth less than $50,000 of all the other counties in the metro area at 28% of the total.

Median owner costs for the real estate market are shown in Figure 10 and include the costs associated with any mortgage, utility expenses, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs. Carter County depicts it has a Median Owner Cost of $463 which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. Figure 11 shows the median amount of cost as a percent of total household income for people who own homes in the Carter County metro area. it has a Owner Cost as % of HH Income of 16% which is the second most of all the counties in the metropolitan area. The next chart, Figure 12, provides a comparison chart of the median home cost as a percent of a median worker take home earnings and is thus a valuable measure of affordable housing. Carter County shows it has a Median Home Value as Percent of Median Earnings of 288% which is the second most median home value as a percent of median worker earnings of all the counties in the greater Carter County region.

Figure 14 depicts the median cost of housing for owners with also have a mortgages (versus those who do not have a mortgage because mortgage cost is included.) Carter County shows it has a Median Owner Costs-With Mortgage of $980 which is in the mid point range of other counties in the greater region. Figure 15 is a chart that shows the median housing costs for owners who do not have mortgages (and therefore the cost of home ownership does not include mortgage cost.) it has a Median Owner Costs-Without Mortgage of $325 which is less than most other counties in the greater region.

Figure 16 shows the distribution in total housing cost for owners of property (so not renters.) This cost includes mortgages, lines of credit interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc. Carter County has one of the largest proportions of owner cost less than $300 at 37% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Elliott County (38%), and #1 Lawrence County (38%) are larger. Second, it has the second smallest as measured by owner cost less than $300 of all the other counties in the local area in terms of owner cost between $500 and $700 at 13% of the total.

Next shown in Figure 17 is the housing cost as a percent of household income for people who own their homes and have a mortgages (thus the cost of financing the home is included.) Carter County shows it has a % of Income Owner Costs-With Mortgage of 20% which is the third most cost as a percent of household income of all other counties in the greater Carter County region. The county with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is Lawrence County which depicts a cost as a percent of household income of 23% (14.0% larger). Housing cost as a percent of household income for owners who do not have a mortgage is shown in Figure 18. This analysis can be useful for understanding the affordable housing for home ownership excluding any financing cost in the area shown. Carter County depicts it has a % of Income Owner Costs-No Mortgage of 12% which is the second most cost as a percent of household income of all the counties in the greater Carter County region. The county with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is Lewis County which shows a cost as a percent of household income of 12% ( only slightly larger).

Figure 19 looks at the cost of rent for rental property using the percent of total household income which is a valuable measure of financial health for the area. (The higher the proportion of rent payments to total household income is a sign of greater financial stress. Also, rent can be covered by rent assistance and rent assistance programs in the form of rent assistance.) Carter County has the percentage of rent as a percent of income is less than 10 pct the second smallest as measured by rent as a percent of income is less than 10 pct of all the other counties in the metro area at 13% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of rent as a percent of income is between 30pct to 40pct at 4% of the total. Third, it has the second smallest as measured by rent as a percent of income is less than 10 pct of all the other counties in the local area in terms of rent as a percent of income is between 40pct to 50pct at 17% of the total.

Figure 20 shows the total housing cost for both home owners and apartment community renters in the area. Carter County has the smallest proportion of housing cost between $500 and $700 at 14% of the total.

Figure 21 shows median amount of real estate taxes paid for home owners in the region. it has a Median Real Estate Taxes Paid of $483 which is the smallest in terms of median real estate taxes paid of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median real estate taxes paid in the area is Greenup County which shows a taxes paid of $1,130 (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing median real estate taxes paid to the United States average of $2,471, Carter County is approximately a fifth the size. Also, measured against the state of Kentucky, median real estate taxes paid of $1,210, Carter County is approximately half the size.

Figure 23 shows the rental rate distribution for this area. Carter County Kentucky has the percentage of rent between 500 and 750 dollars the second smallest as measured by rent less than 300 dollars of all the other counties in the surrounding region at 12% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of rent between 1000 and 1500 dollars at 1% of the total and is ranked #1.

Carter County Home Financing Charts

The analysis in Figure 25 shows the detailed distribution of owned homes by mortgage status. Carter County has the smallest proportion of 2nd mortgage at 1% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of no 2nd mortgage and no heloc at 62% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Lawrence County (63%), and #1 Elliott County (67%) are larger.

Figure 26 shows the proportion of houses with a mortgage versus those without a mortgage. Carter County has one of the largest proportions of houses with mortgages at 62% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Lawrence County (63%), and #1 Elliott County (67%) are larger.

Carter County Home Characteristics Charts

Figure 28 shows the household size for families living in the area and it has a Family size of 3.5 which is the largest of all counties in the greater Carter County region. Comparing family members per housing unit to the United States average of 3.3, Carter County is only about 4.9% larger. Also, in contrast to the state of Kentucky, family members per housing unit of 3.1, Carter County is 10.9% larger.

Figure 29 show the median number of rooms in a typical home for each location in this area. it has a Median Number of Rooms of 5.7 which is the third most average number of rooms in a house of all other counties in the greater Carter County region. The county with the highest average number of rooms in a house in the area is Greenup County which shows an average number of rooms in a house of 6.0 (only about 5.3% larger). Figure 30 shows, for the average house in each location, the median year that a house was built. This can be useful for understanding the relative age of one neighborhood versus another for a real estate investor. it has a Median Year Built of 1981 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest year built in the area is Rowan County which depicts a year built of 1988 ( about the same size).

Figure 31 looks at the distribution of housing units by the median age that the homes were built. it has one of the largest proportions of homes built between 2010 to 2013 at 16% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Elliott County (18%), and #1 Lewis County (18%) are larger. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by homes built in 2014 or later of all the other counties in the local area as measured by homes built between 1940 to 1949 at 6% of the total.

Figure 32 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners versus occupied by renters. has the percentage of owner housing units in the middle range of other counties in the greater region at 2,174 of the total.

Figure 33 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners or renters. has the smallest proportion of 3 or 4 units at 1% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 50 or more units at 31% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Lawrence County (36%), and #1 Elliott County (41%) are larger.

Figure 34 shows the median value of homes broken down by the median year that the homes were built. has the percentage of value of homes built 2014 or later the second smallest when sorted by value of homes built 2014 or later of all the other counties in the greater region at $103,000 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 2010 to 2013 at $140,200 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Rowan County ($157,300), and #1 Greenup County ($158,400) are larger. Third, it has in the middle range of other counties in the greater region in order of value of homes built 2000 to 2009 at $87,100 of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the greater region in terms of value of homes built 1990 to 1999 at $88,300 of the total. In addition, it has in the mid range of other counties in the metro area in terms of value of homes built 1980 to 1989 at $101,100 of the total. Furthermore, it has the second smallest in terms of value of homes built 2014 or later of all the other counties in the surrounding region when ranked by value of homes built 1970 to 1979 at $78,600 of the total. Next it has one of the largest proportions of value of homes built 1960 to 1969 at $88,100 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Greenup County ($96,400), and #1 Rowan County ($133,200) are larger. Additionally, it has less than most other counties in the greater region in terms of value of homes built 1950 to 1959 at $45,700 of the total. And then, it has the largest proportion of value of homes built 1940 to 1949 at $135,400 of the total and is ranked #1.

The next two charts show both the average household size of homeowners versus the average household size of renters. Starting with Figure 36 we see the household size of homeowners for Carter County residents. it has a Owner-Household Size of 2.8 which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater Carter County region.

Figure 37 shows the household size for renters. Carter County depicts it has a Renter-Household Size of 2.5 which is the second most renter household sizes of all the counties in the greater Carter County region. The county with the highest renter household size in the area is Lawrence County which depicts a renter household sizes of 2.6 (only about 3.1% larger). Figure 39 shows the year that people who rent moved into the area. Carter County has one of the largest proportions of renters moved in 2017 or later at 35% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Rowan County with 38%.

Figure 40 compares the median year that home owners moved into their home. it has a Owner Median Year Moved In of 2001 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. Figure 41 compares the median year that renters moved into their home. Carter County shows it has a Renter Median Year Moved In of 2015 which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater region.

Figure 42 shows the frequency distribution of various types of energy sources used for homes in the community. it has one of the largest proportions of home using bottled, tank, or lp gas at 62% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Rowan County with 64%. Second, it has the largest proportion of homes using wood at 0% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of homes using solar energy at 1% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Elliott County with 1%.

The next two charts show the number of people living in group quarters and includes temporary as well permanent housing which may be run by the Carter County housing department, Kentucky department, or other housing authority or public housing agency. beginning with Figure 43 which shows the total number of people. Carter County depicts it has a Total In Group Quarters of 724 which is in the mid range of other counties in the local area.