Carter County, OK

This county of 49,092 residents needs 427 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
49,092 (2026)
Households
18,977
Median household income
$66,045 (2026)
Typical home value
$186,164
Owner-occupied
59%
Five-year housing need
427 units

Comparison to other Oklahoma counties

Carter County: $66,045 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$43K >$89K
Carter County: 1.2 jobs to household ratio
<0.35 >1.33
Carter County: Permits since 2021 represent 1.0% of housing
<0% >3.6%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $186,164, typical home prices in Carter County, OK are close to the Oklahoma average of $173,123. Carter County, OK's median household income of $66,045 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Carter County, OK has a population of roughly 48,555 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Carter County, OK has roughly 18,977 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Carter County, OK is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 77% of units. Homeownership is the norm in Carter County, OK, with 59% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Carter County, OK needs 427 new units over the next 5 years.

51
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
0.3%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 18,977 in 2026 to 19,028 in 2031.
376
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
254
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.3 per 1,000 units.
78
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 6.3%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
44
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.21%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
427
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
85
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
2.0%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.4%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?