The Town FilesCarter, Texas
Community in Parker County · population 1,637 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $316,400
- Household income
- $103,264
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 37.8
Carter is a community of 1,637 people in Parker County, Texas. The median home is worth $316,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Texas towns, better for families than 81% of Texas towns, quieter than 72% of Texas towns.
How Carter ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carter is worth $316,400, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $103,264, which is more affordable than 45% of Texas towns. 92.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carter | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $316,400 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | — | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $103,264 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 92.6% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carter
| People | Carter | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.5% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 15.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 37.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 89.2% |
Weather in Carter
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 31.8°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 61 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carter since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 25, 1990 about 1.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 25, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 134 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on April 1, 2024.
Severe weather in Parker County since 1996
Parker County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| June 11, 2016 | Flood | DR-4272: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Parker County
Parker County had 41,507 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,835 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Carter itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Carter
- Springtown, TX4.9 mi · 3,064 people · home $261,300
- Reno, TX10.3 mi · 2,878 people · home $362,400
- Weatherford, TX11.3 mi · 30,854 people · home $312,100
- Azle, TX11.7 mi · 13,369 people · home $287,100
- Hudson Oaks, TX11.8 mi · 2,174 people · home $456,300
- Briar, TX11.8 mi · 7,035 people · home $405,900
- Willow Park, TX12.5 mi · 4,936 people · home $374,200
- Pelican Bay, TX12.8 mi · 2,049 people · home $181,800
Carter questions
Is Carter, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carter scores better for retirees than 15% of Texas towns and quieter than 72%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Carter?
The median owner-occupied home in Carter is valued at $316,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,264, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Carter?
July highs average 94.6°F and January lows 31.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Carter get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 25, 1990. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)