County · Oklahoma

Carter County, Oklahoma

Carter County, Oklahoma. Carter County had 48,910 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than Oklahoma (+4.1%). It holds 10 places (9 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 16 census tracts. GEOID 40019.

Carter County is the county of the Ardmore, OK micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

48,910

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 48,003 · ACS 2020-2024: 48,555

Median household income

$60,723

±$1,563 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $65,039

Median home value

$168,500

±$7,228 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $199,800

Median gross rent

$980

±$30 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $1,014

How many people live in Carter County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 48,003 residents in Carter County. The Census Bureau estimates 48,910 for July 1, 2025, up 1.9% since 2020, slower than Oklahoma (+4.1%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 48,555 over 822 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +220 (48,260)
2021→2022 +225 (48,485)
2022→2023 +412 (48,897)
2023→2024 +271 (49,168)
2024→2025 −258 (48,910)

Carter County in Oklahoma. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Carter County	Oklahoma	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	48,555	4,028,634	+236
Households	19,046±258	1,562,389	+707
Average household size	2.50±0.03	2.50	−0.08
Housing units	21,624±131	1,775,127	no clear change

Carter County's population since 2000

From 45,621 in 2000 to 48,910 in 2025: up 7.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 45,621
2005 (estimate) 46,169
2010 Census 47,557
2015 (estimate) 48,587
2020 Census 48,003
2025 (estimate) 48,910

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Carter County?

Carter County holds 10 places: 9 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Ardmore with 24,956 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Carter County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Ardmore	city	24,725	24,877±43	$53,900	$170,000	17.4%	100%
Lone Grove	city	4,993	5,125±29	$74,265	$204,900	14.4%	100%
Healdton	city	2,328	2,495±210	$51,286	$66,400	22.4%	100%
Wilson	city	1,399	1,725±215	$60,625	$102,500	17.4%	100%
Dickson	town	1,331	1,231±233	$81,250	$201,300	11.1%	100%
Springer	town	685	854±118	$58,625	$183,900	17.2%	100%
Gene Autry	town	154	224±68	$63,125	$96,700	22.6%	100%
TatumsGEOID 4072500	town	111	164±71	$43,750	$73,800	12.8%	100%
FoxGEOID 4027550	CDP	92	63±31	$63,194	$114,100	14.3%	100%
Ratliff CityGEOID 4061900	town	64	95±58	$29,375	$112,500	15.8%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Carter County?

The median resident of Carter County is 38.3 years old; 25.0% are under 18 and 17.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 66.5%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 10.5%. 3.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Carter County	Oklahoma	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	38.3±0.3	37.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	25.0%	24.0%	–
65 years and over	17.1%±0.1 pts	16.3%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	8.6%	12.7%	+1.3 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	66.5%±0.6 pts	62.1%	−3.5 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	6.1%±0.2 pts	6.8%	−0.4 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	1.3%±0.2 pts	2.4%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	6.7%±0.6 pts	6.6%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.2%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	10.5%±0.8 pts	8.9%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.4 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	3.1%±0.4 pts	6.4%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	7.1%±0.7 pts	11.5%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.9%±0.6 pts	7.9%	–
With a disability	22.1%±1.0 pts	17.2%	–
No health insurance coverage	14.3%±1.1 pts	12.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.0%±1.1 pts	89.4%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	19.9%±1.4 pts	28.3%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.7%±0.8 pts	9.9%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	2.7%±0.5 pts	2.7%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Carter County earn?

Half of Carter County's 19,046 households earn less than $60,723 a year (±$1,563), against $65,039 in Oklahoma. In 2015-2019 it was $63,281 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 16.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carter County	Oklahoma	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$60,723±$1,563	$65,039	no clear change
Mean household income	$83,415±$3,486	$88,936	–
Per capita income	$34,057±$1,420	$35,624	+$1,943
People below the poverty line	16.2%±1.3 pts	15.3%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	19.0%±2.6 pts	20.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	16.2%±1.5 pts	14.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.4%±1.6 pts	88.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Carter County?

Owners occupy 66.8% of Carter County's occupied homes and renters 33.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,500 by its owner (±$7,228). The median renter pays $980 a month including utilities, and 39.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carter County	Oklahoma	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$168,500±$7,228	$199,800	+$29,432
Median gross rent	$980±$30	$1,014	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	39.2%±3.5 pts	37.5%	+6.3 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,451±$59	$1,539	–
Owner-occupied homes	66.8%±1.9 pts	65.8%	no clear change
Housing units	21,624±131	1,775,127	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	2.0%±0.6 pts	1.2%	–
Rental vacancy rate	6.3%±1.8 pts	6.5%	–
Single-family detached homes	77.1%±1.8 pts	72.7%	–
Mobile homes	12.1%±1.3 pts	8.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.0%±0.4 pts	2.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	8.4%±0.9 pts	6.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Carter County building?

Builders took permits for 55 new housing units across Carter County in 2025 (55 single-family), 1.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 46 units
2020 47 units
2021 54 units
2022 34 units
2023 25 units
2024 59 units
2025 55 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Carter County get to work?

77.5% of Carter County's workers drive alone and 5.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Carter County	Oklahoma	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	59.9%±0.9 pts	61.2%	–
Unemployment rate	3.8%±0.6 pts	5.0%	−1.6 pts
Drove alone to work	77.5%±1.8 pts	77.4%	–
Carpooled	13.5%±1.5 pts	9.7%	–
Public transportation	0.6%±0.5 pts	0.3%	–
Walked	1.6%±0.4 pts	1.8%	–
Worked from home	5.0%±1.0 pts	9.4%	+2.6 pts
Mean travel time to work	20.8 min±0.8	22.4 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Carter County's census tracts?

Carter County is divided into 16 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $40,153 (Tract 8928.02) to $99,349 (Tract 8925.02).

Census tracts of Carter County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 892140019892100	Ardmore (14%)	2,712	2,919±237	$61,500	$200,000	$895	20.1%
Tract 892240019892200	Ratliff City (14%)	1,276	1,294±156	$57,917	$124,500	$913	12.4%
Tract 8923.0140019892301	Healdton (57%)	1,471	1,487±179	$53,750	$83,200	$936	17.7%
Tract 8923.0240019892302	Healdton (94%)	1,100	1,190±157	$46,250	$42,700	$854	27.4%
Tract 892440019892400	Wilson (47%)	3,176	3,460±274	$56,161	$108,900	$789	18.1%
Tract 8925.0140019892501	Lone Grove (43%)	4,774	5,032±425	$72,527	$203,600	$922	13.3%
Tract 8925.0240019892502	Lone Grove (48%)	5,360	5,406±376	$99,349	$245,500	$1,375	8.9%
Tract 8926.0140019892601	Ardmore	2,824	3,540±394	$64,597	$126,400	$1,185	23.4%
Tract 8926.0240019892602	Ardmore (82%)	3,619	3,526±411	$58,021	$289,800	$946	10.0%
Tract 892740019892700	Dickson (25%)	4,857	4,433±467	$66,167	$213,100	$838	13.1%
Tract 8928.0140019892801	Ardmore	2,376	2,071±224	$43,309	$84,300	$863	25.5%
Tract 8928.0240019892802	Ardmore	2,272	2,125±216	$40,153	$92,800	$915	35.4%
Tract 892940019892900	Ardmore	2,164	2,394±217	$43,864	$164,900	$1,060	17.1%
Tract 8930.0140019893001	Ardmore (94%)	4,133	3,804±359	$72,589	$233,400	$1,097	12.7%
Tract 8930.0240019893002	Ardmore	3,126	3,149±356	$51,654	$210,200	$1,103	10.9%
Tract 893140019893100	Ardmore	2,763	2,725±240	$46,530	$98,700	$984	18.7%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Carter County compare with Oklahoma's other counties?

Carter County's rank among Oklahoma's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	17th of 77
Growth 2020-2025	36th of 77
Residents per square mile	19th of 77
Median household income	35th of 77
Median home value	22nd of 77
Median gross rent	7th of 77
Poverty rate	44th of 77
Bachelor's degree or higher	39th of 77
Median age	54th of 77

Every county in Oklahoma

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Carter County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.