Carter County
KY · Pop. 26,515 · Suburban County
Carter County is a suburban county in Kentucky, spanning 409 square miles with 26,515 residents at a density of 64.8 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, haylage, corn. A median home price of $126,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.49% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 158-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.5°F and average winter lows of 21.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 43.4 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital is 23.1 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 72.4% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.49% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $126,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Annual rainfall of 43.4 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A 158-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Broadband reaches only 72.4% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- The nearest hospital, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, is 23.1 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- A poverty rate of 19.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Carter County, KY is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 58/100
- Median home price
- $126k
- Property tax
- 0.49%
- Growing season
- 158 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 43.4"
- Broadband
- 72.4%
- Nearest hospital
- Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, 23.1 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Carter County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Carter County?
- Carter County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 158-day growing season, average summer highs of 85.5°F, and average winter lows of 21.8°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $126,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.49%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 72.4% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital is 23.1 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Kentucky Resources
Partner links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you
LandWatch
Browse rural land, farms, and ranches for sale across every state.
Lands of America
The largest listing site for rural property — farms, ranches, hunting land, and timberland.
AcreTrader
Invest in farmland online — vetted properties with passive income potential.
More counties in Kentucky
All Kentucky countiesNearby counties
The closest counties to Carter County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
Your brand here — Reach our audience of professional directory owners and boost your sales.