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CITY

Clay City

Illinois · 816 residents (2025 est.) · 1.782 sq mi
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The short version

Clay City has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,472. Population has fallen 28% since 2000, a loss of 277 residents. 4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $83,200. The poverty rate of 32.5% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 36% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.9
US median: 38.9
Less educated
4% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
723
−28%since 2000
from 1,000 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
406 / sq mi
−28%since 2000
from 561 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.9
+2%since 2000
from 38.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:816 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6957788629451K1990201020202024Clay City
2024723
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,472
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$25,756
+87%since 2000
from $13,776 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.5%
+24.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
32.5%
+16.1 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.484
+20%since 2010
from 0.402 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing19.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance14.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade13.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical13.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing12%
US avg: 0.4%
Information11.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Construction7.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Other services0.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$83,200
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$610
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $319 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.5%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 74.3% in 2000
24.5% rent
Vacancy rate
24.9%
+11.8 ptssince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.6%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.5%
+20.7 ptssince 2009
from 30.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
+9%since 2000
from 1.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Clay City on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic99%(990)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(4)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other0%
Diversity Score1.3%(13)
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(700)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(4)
Asian0.1%(1)
Other2.5%(18)
Diversity Score7.7%(56)
Diversity Score
8
+519%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
3.7%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 7.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.6%
+9.9 ptssince 2000
from 80.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 0.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.1 min
+103%since 2000
from 12.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
84.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 84.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.0%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
0.0%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.1%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 11.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.3%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 58.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
8.0%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
10.2%
−48.8 ptssince 2009
from 59.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
Female
53.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−37.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2012
from 18.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.2%
−71.6 ptssince 2013
from 81.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.6%
+24.6 ptssince 2017
from 61.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 100.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Compare Clay City to nearby cities

CLAY CITY VS
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Income$59,980+12%
Home value$99,800+20%
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CLAY CITY VS
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Home value$177,500+113%
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CLAY CITY VS
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CLAY CITY VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay City, Illinois?

Clay City, Illinois has about 723 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clay City, Illinois?

The typical household in Clay City, Illinois earns about $53,472 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay City, Illinois expensive?

In Clay City, Illinois, the median home is worth about $83,200, and the typical rent is about $610 a month.

How educated are people in Clay City, Illinois?

About 3.7% of adults age 25 and over in Clay City, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay City, Illinois?

About 32.5% of people in Clay City, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay City, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay City, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 186 residents, a change of about -20 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →