The Town Files

Carter County, Missouri

5,297 people. The median home is worth $159,400 (typical Missouri town: $153,900) and the median household earns $50,000.

Towns in Carter County

Towns in Carter County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Van Buren747$103,400$20,56041.2

People and housing

Carter CountyTypical Missouri town
Median home value$159,400$153,900
Median rent$656$855
Median household income$50,000$56,368
Median age38.938.6
Bachelor's degree or higher10.1%18.9%
Below the poverty line20.8%14.6%

Jobs and pay

1,472 jobs in 2024, average pay $36,121 a year.

Largest industries in Carter CountyHealth care & social assistan…287 jobs · $26,093Manufacturing196 jobs · $39,145Retail144 jobs · $25,052Construction61 jobs · $52,366Finance & insurance58 jobs · $54,940Real estate8 jobs · $31,429
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Carter County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 713 storm events in Carter County from 1996 to 2026, with 2 deaths.

Storm events in Carter County by type since 1996Hail81Heat64Flood32Drought46Dense Fog78Flash Flood30Strong Wind61Frost/Freeze54Winter Storm27Excessive Heat27
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Carter County has been included in 22 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 21, 2025Severe StormDR-4867: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Wildfires
May 21, 2025Severe StormDR-4872: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
January 1, 2025Severe StormDR-4855: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
July 23, 2024Severe StormDR-4803: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 9, 2020Severe StormDR-4552: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).