The Town Files

Carter County, Tennessee

56,712 people. The median home is worth $168,200 (typical Tennessee town: $204,650) and the median household earns $50,135.

Towns in Carter County

Towns in Carter County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Elizabethton14,546$172,900$46,97540.9

People and housing

Carter CountyTypical Tennessee town
Median home value$168,200$204,650
Median rent$739$863
Median household income$50,135$57,917
Median age45.940.8
Bachelor's degree or higher20.6%18.2%
Below the poverty line17.1%14.2%

Jobs and pay

12,025 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,576 a year.

Largest industries in Carter CountyRetail1,816 jobs · $29,661Manufacturing1,682 jobs · $56,468Hotels & restaurants1,416 jobs · $19,665Other services337 jobs · $48,508Finance & insurance302 jobs · $75,739Arts & recreation174 jobs · $31,368
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Carter County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3.7%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 349 storm events in Carter County from 1996 to 2026, with 9 deaths.

Storm events in Carter County by type since 1996Hail24Flood12Drought2Tornado3High Wind30Ice Storm7Heavy Snow85Flash Flood31Strong Wind3Winter Storm46
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Carter County has been included in 18 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
February 6, 2026Winter StormDR-4898: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3635: Severe Winter Storm
April 2, 2025Severe StormEM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
October 2, 2024Tropical StormDR-4832: Tropical Storm Helene
September 27, 2024Tropical StormEM-3620: Tropical Storm Helene
April 2, 2020BiologicalDR-4514: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).