Carter County
MO · Pop. 5,269 · Rural County
Carter County is a rural county in Missouri, spanning 507 square miles with 5,269 residents at a density of 10.4 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay. A median home price of $148,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.44% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 198-day growing season, average summer highs of 89°F and average winter lows of 24.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 47.6 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Southeasthealth Center of Ripley County is 23.3 miles away, though without an in-county emergency room. Broadband reaches 16.8% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 198-day growing season in USDA zone 6b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.44% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $148,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- At 10.4 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
- Annual rainfall of 47.6 inches supports rain-fed gardens and pasture in most years.
Cons
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Broadband reaches only 16.8% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- The nearest hospital, Southeasthealth Center of Ripley County, is 23.3 miles away, a real consideration for medical needs.
- A poverty rate of 19.2% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Carter County, MO is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 66/100
- Median home price
- $148k
- Property tax
- 0.44%
- Growing season
- 198 days (zone 6b)
- Annual rainfall
- 47.6"
- Broadband
- 16.8%
- Nearest hospital
- Southeasthealth Center of Ripley County, 23.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Carter County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Carter County?
- Carter County is in USDA hardiness zone 6b with a 198-day growing season, average summer highs of 89°F, and average winter lows of 24.8°F. The established crops are hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $148,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.44%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 16.8% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Southeasthealth Center of Ripley County is 23.3 miles away, without an in-county emergency room.
Explore Missouri Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Missouri
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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