The typical owner-occupied home in Carter County is worth about $168,200, 41% below the Tennessee median of $286,700 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $864 a year in property taxes, about 0.51% of their home's value, close to the Tennessee rate of 0.50%. The median household earns $50,135 a year, so the median home costs 3.4 times the median income (4.1 times for Tennessee). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Carter County at a glance
| Carter County | Tennessee | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,200 | $286,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $864 | $1,442 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.51% | 0.50% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $50,135 | $69,595 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 42% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,134 | $1,566 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.6% | 19.6% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $739 | $1,189 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.4% | 29.5% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1977 | 1987 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 13.1% | 10.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 56,712 | 7,066,383 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Carter County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Carter County home of $168,200 with 20% down costs about $1,047 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,327, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $44,861 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 25% of the median Carter County household income of $50,135; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $188,000.
The median rent here is $739 a month, so owning the median home costs about $308 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $33,640 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $134,560 |
| Principal and interest | $905 |
| Property taxes (0.51% a year) | $71 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $70 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,047 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,887 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $165,153 |
| Principal and interest | $1,111 |
| Property taxes (0.51% a year) | $71 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $70 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $74 |
| Total per month | $1,327 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Carter County
What is the median home value in Carter County?
About $168,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Carter County?
Homeowners pay a median $864 a year, which is about 0.51% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Carter County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,047 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $44,861 a year.
More about Carter County
- Mortgage Refinance in Carter County
- Debt Relief in Carter County
- Home Equity Loans in Carter County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data