Carter County, Oklahoma: commercial real estate data.
Carter County, Oklahoma had an estimated 49,135 residents on July 1, 2024, up 2.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 48,003, across 822 square miles. County output reached $3.82 bn in 2024, 1,575 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 37 7(a) approvals worth $53.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Carter County
How many people live in Carter County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202448,555
- Households19,046
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$60,723
- Median age38.3
- Median gross rent$980 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$168,500
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over32,464
- Population under 1812,121
- Share under 1825.0 percent
- Population 65 and over8,300
- Share 65 and over17.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6428,134
- Civilian labor force22,594
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.0 percent
- Rank by population among Oklahoma counties17th of 77
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1033rd of 3,222
Carter County is the 17th largest of 77 Oklahoma counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.0 percent against 17.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Carter County
Is Carter County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202449,135
- Census 2020 base population48,003
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.36 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024281
- Births, 2024596
- Deaths, 2024587
- Natural change, 20249
- Net domestic migration, 2024180
- Net international migration, 202492
- Total net migration, 2024272
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,145
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1053rd of 3,144
The county has grown 2.36 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Carter County
Where are people moving to Carter County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,176
- People arriving, from those returns2,265
- Tax returns filed by households leaving1,062
- Net household movement114
- Adjusted gross income arriving$69.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$17.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,480
- Average income of a leaving household$49,467
- Largest single originLove County (116 households)
- Largest single destinationOklahoma County (88 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love County | 116 | 239 | $5.5 m |
| Oklahoma County | 58 | 93 | $-32.5 m |
| Johnston County | 42 | 74 | $1.5 m |
| Murray County | 41 | 77 | $1.9 m |
| Cooke County | 36 | 78 | $1.7 m |
| Marshall County | 35 | 55 | $1.2 m |
| Denton County | 34 | 72 | $2.3 m |
| Tarrant County | 33 | 62 | $2.0 m |
Households arriving report $10,013 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Love County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Carter County
What is the Carter County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$3.82 bn
- County GDP, 2023$3.84 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.5 percent
- GDP change over five years51.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Oklahoma areas BEA publishes11th of 77
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes838th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$78,774
Output grew -0.5 percent in the latest year and 51.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Carter County
Employment by industry in Carter County
- Covered employment, annual average23,310
- Establishments reporting1,742
- Average annual pay$53,952
- Average weekly wage$1,038
- Retail trade, employment3,585
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,761
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,382
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$55,398
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,777
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,223
- Manufacturing, employment2,554
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$97,762
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,209
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, employment1,048
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 3,585 | 248 | $36,761 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,382 | 217 | $55,398 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,777 | 115 | $20,223 |
| Manufacturing | 2,554 | 54 | $97,762 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,209 | 68 | $64,098 |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 1,048 | 102 | $81,787 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 899 | 85 | $45,340 |
| Construction | 854 | 122 | $58,190 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 3,585 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Carter County
How many businesses are in Carter County?
- Establishments, all industries1,575
- Employment at those establishments21,435
- Annual payroll$1.13 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents32.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Carter County
Building permits in Carter County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202459
- Declared construction value permitted$9.5 m
- Single family units authorized59
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$160,813
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.1
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Carter County
SBA loans in Carter County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded37
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$53.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,432,443
- Median 7(a) approval$896,000
- 10th percentile approval$105,780
- 90th percentile approval$2,812,400
- Largest single approval$4,900,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)425
- Jobs per approval11.5
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals22
- Median 7(a) term246 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer56.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms21
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter13
- Franchise loans17
- Franchise share of approvals45.9 percent
- Leading industry by approval countHotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (9)
- Most active lenderBancFirst (5)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$971,000
- Average 504 approval$323,667
- Median 504 approval$137,000
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval5.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved17.5
- Most active CDCRural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$54.0 m
The average approval of $1,432,443 sits well above the median of $896,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 56.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Carter County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Carter County
Do SBA loans in Carter County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded5
- Paid in full5
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure27
- Status: Paid in full5
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed2
Only 5 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Carter County
SBA lending by place in Carter County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Ardmore, approvals32
- Overbrook, approvals2
- Wilson, approvals1
- Lone Grove, approvals1
- Gene Autry, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ardmore | 32 | $49,936,800 |
| Overbrook | 2 | $1,396,200 |
| Wilson | 1 | $1,528,000 |
| Lone Grove | 1 | $108,900 |
| Gene Autry | 1 | $30,500 |
Ardmore accounts for 32 approvals against 2 in Overbrook. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Carter County
How large is Carter County?
- Land area822 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Oklahoma counties36th of 77
- Width, east to west36 mi
- Height, north to south30.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land59
- Establishments per square mile1.92
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Carter County
Flood risk in Carter County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Carter County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 400030
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate66.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Carter County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Carter County (community 400030), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Carter County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 66.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Carter County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Carter County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202448,555
- Households19,046
- Average household size2.55
- Median household income$60,723
- Median age38.3
Common questions
Carter County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Carter County, Oklahoma?
The Census Bureau estimates 49,135 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 48,555, in 19,046 households, ranking 17th of 77 Oklahoma counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Carter County's population growing?
The population has grown 2.36 percent since the 2020 census base of 48,003, to 49,135 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 596 births against 587 deaths, with net migration of 272. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Carter County?
$60,723. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $168,500, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $980 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Carter County?
1,575 establishments, employing 21,435 people with an annual payroll of $1.13 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Carter County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 3,585 jobs, 15.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 23,310 jobs at an average annual pay of $53,952, or $1,038 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Carter County?
37 7(a) approvals totaling $53.0 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $896,000, plus 3 504 approvals worth $971,000 since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Carter County?
59 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $9.5 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Carter County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Carter County come from?
The largest single origin is Love County, with 116 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,480 against $49,467 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Carter County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Carter County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Carter County
Cities and places in Carter.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Carter County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardmore | city | 24,877 | 32 | Wholly in this county |
| Lone Grove | city | 5,125 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Healdton | city | 2,495 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Wilson | city | 1,725 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Dickson | town | 1,231 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Springer | town | 854 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gene Autry | town | 224 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Tatums | town | 164 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ratliff City | town | 95 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fox | CDP | 63 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 37 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Carter County, the largest being Overbrook (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.