There is a strong agrarian sector, and the crops are mainly coconuts and arecanuts. Paddy cultivation has a major setback now, as is the case with most of Kerala, with paddy fields being claimed for houses and for more profitable crops. Migration to the Middle East (Gulf) and to the major cities in India is prevalent.

Karthikappalli village connects to other parts of India through Vatakara city on the west and Kuttiady town on the east. National highway No.66 passes through Vatakara and the northern stretch connects to Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai. The southern stretch connects to Cochin and Trivandrum. The eastern Highway going through Kuttiady connects to Mananthavady, Mysore and Bangalore. The nearest airports are at Kannur and Kozhikode. The nearest railway station is at Vatakara.

Karthikappalli Sri Durga Devi temple is the main temple.
Elengoli Juma Masjid and Kombukulam Juma masjid are the main mosques in Karthikappalli.

There are three primary and one upper primary schools in Karthikappalli, including KARTHIKAPPALLI L P SCHOOL'Karthikappalli No.1 UP school, Karthikappalli North LP School(Vaprath School),and Karthikappalli North Mopla LP School. But for higher education, students have to go to Villyappalli, Purameri or Orkkatteri (neighbouring villages).
MES Public school also situated in Karthikappalli.
There are two Madrasas offering religious education to Muslim students - Elengoli Noorul Islam Madrasa and Kombukulam Madrasa

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