Carter County
TN · Pop. 56,462 · Mixed County
Carter County, Tennessee covers 341 square miles with a population of 56,462 and a density of 165.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, haylage. The median home price is $157,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.53%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 183-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.6°F and average winter lows of 26.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 45.1 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Sycamore Shoals Hospital is 8.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.53% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $157,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 97% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Sycamore Shoals Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 8.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.9% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 18% 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, TN is a strong overall fit for homesteading.
- Homestead score
- 71/100
- Median home price
- $157k
- Property tax
- 0.53%
- Growing season
- 183 days (zone 7a)
- Annual rainfall
- 45.1"
- Broadband
- 97%
- Nearest hospital
- Sycamore Shoals Hospital, 8.1 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 7a with a 183-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.6°F, and average winter lows of 26.8°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $157,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.53%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Sycamore Shoals Hospital is 8.1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Tennessee Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Tennessee
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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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