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Carter County, MO
5 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Carter County, Missouri.
Population
5,297
Land area
507sq mi
People per sq mi
10
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Carter County
Carter County at a glance
- Carter County is 88% less dense than Missouri as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $50,000 a year, 29% less than the Missouri figure of $70,702.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $159,400 (31% below Missouri) and median rent is $656 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Van Buren (1,161), Ellsinore (678) and Grandin (352).
Local data for Carter County, MO
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Carter County, MO, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$50,000
Poverty rate
20.8%
Median home value
$159,400
Median rent
$656/mo
Homeownership
60.7%
Bachelor's or higher
10.1%
Median age
38.9
Average commute
24.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (843), Irish Americans (579), Polish Americans (141).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
5.0%
Aug 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$37,585
1,448 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$52,549
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$50.4M
FY 2026, $9,684 per person
PPP loans
$8.2M
370 loans, 1,434 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$5,007
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Carter County, MO, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone68.6%
- Carpooled14.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home11.4%
Average one-way commute: 24.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Carter County, MO, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
713
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
37
1.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
89° / 23°F
48.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone24 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Carter County, MO, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.0%
U.S. 33.3% +6.7 pts
Diabetes
15.7%
U.S. 12.1% +3.6 pts
Smoking
22.6%
U.S. 12.8% +9.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.9%
U.S. 11.1% about the same
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Carter County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Carter County, MO?
- Van Buren is the largest city or town in Carter County, with about 1,161 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Carter County?
- Carter County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 63937, 63941, 63943, 63965.
- What is the population of Carter County, MO?
- About 5,297 people live in Carter County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Carter County?
- Carter County borders Butler County, Wayne County, Ripley County, Oregon County, Shannon County, Reynolds County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023