CensusEasy
CITY

Clayton

Missouri · 17,807 residents (2025 est.) · 2.507 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the St. Louis metro area
Compare
Notable rankings
#32Most educatedof 6,82684.9%
The short version

Clayton is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $123,000. Population has grown 36% since 2000. 85% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $830,000. At a median age of 30.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It ranks in the top 5% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
85% 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
17,380
+36%since 2000
from 12,825 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,933 / sq mi
+8%since 2009
from 6,398 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
30.0
−18%since 2000
from 36.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:17,807 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K14K15K16K18K1990201020202024Clayton
202417K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.5%(434)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.2%(559)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147%(1,218)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1921.7%(3,763)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.2%(1,597)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.8%(2,053)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.2%(1,768)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.9%(1,903)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.6%(1,667)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.2%(1,259)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845%(862)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.7%(297)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$123,000
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,184 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$74,159
+54%since 2000
from $48,055 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.0%
+11.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.0%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 7.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.548
+3%since 2010
from 0.533 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services11.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration8.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade7.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information6.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 1.9%
Wholesale trade1.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance0.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical0.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$830,000
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $392,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,692
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $708 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
54.9%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 55.2% in 2000
45.1% rent
Vacancy rate
10.3%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
25.5%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.4%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 34.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.7
−1%since 2009
from 6.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
48
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Clayton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.7%(10,740)
Black7.8%(996)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(191)
Asian5.6%(721)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic66.6%(11,572)
Black8.7%(1,510)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(644)
Asian13.3%(2,306)
Other7.8%(1,348)
Diversity Score
66
+43%since 2009
from 46 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.3%(233)
Puerto Rican0.5%(95)
Colombian0.3%(55)
Guatemalan0.2%(42)
Spaniard0.2%(42)
Peruvian0.1%(22)
Cuban0.1%(16)
Asian origin
Chinese5.7%(985)
Korean1.5%(269)
Filipino1.2%(201)
Japanese0.6%(96)
Pakistani0.3%(53)
Vietnamese0.1%(17)
Taiwanese0.1%(13)
Ancestry
German19.5%(3,395)
Irish13.3%(2,316)
American11.8%(2,045)
English8.8%(1,531)
Italian3.1%(544)
Russian3%(524)
Arab2.8%(490)
Polish2.5%(442)
Syrian2.2%(388)
French1.7%(304)
Austrian1.3%(223)
Hungarian1.1%(188)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Scottish0.9%(163)
Ukrainian0.9%(158)
Greek0.8%(131)
Danish0.7%(118)
Dutch0.7%(114)
Swedish0.6%(109)
British0.6%(105)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(93)
Swiss0.5%(87)
Norwegian0.4%(72)
Canadian0.3%(58)
Nigerian0.3%(55)
Lebanese0.3%(53)
Welsh0.3%(49)
Belgian0.2%(40)
Lithuanian0.2%(38)
Slovak0.2%(38)
Turkish0.2%(36)
West Indian0.1%(26)
Czech0.1%(25)
Slovene0.1%(25)
Jamaican0.1%(25)
Croatian0.1%(22)
Romanian0.1%(21)
Finnish0.1%(19)
Macedonian0.1%(14)
Brazilian0.1%(13)
Serbian0.1%(13)
Kenyan0.1%(9)
Iranian0%(6)
Haitian0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Chinese population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
84.9%
+15.2 ptssince 2000
from 69.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
97.0%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 96.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
50.6%
+14.2 ptssince 2000
from 36.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.6 min
+62%since 2000
from 10.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
57.4%
−16.9 ptssince 2009
from 74.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
23.4%
+15.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
10.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
+0.3 ptssince 2011
from 3.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 55.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.2%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
76.6%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Female
49.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Foreign born
13.9%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.2%
−48.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2012
from 4.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.1%
−94.9 ptssince 2013
from 98.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
96.0%
+2.9 ptssince 2017
from 93.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.7%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 83.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married54%(4,049)
Married40.1%(3,008)
Widowed1.6%(122)
Divorced4.3%(321)
Women 15+
Never married50.3%(3,858)
Married36.4%(2,789)
Widowed5.3%(406)
Divorced8%(616)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Clayton

Country Walk
Pop 19,291
Palm Valley
Pop 19,796
Bradfordville
Pop 18,953
Glasgow
Pop 15,546
Places similar to Clayton
Head to head

Compare Clayton to nearby cities

CLAYTON VS
Richmond Heights
Income$94,460−23%
Home value$358,700−57%
Population9,093−49%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAYTON VS
University City
Income$80,694−34%
Home value$306,700−63%
Population34,657+95%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAYTON VS
Brentwood
Income$99,719−19%
Home value$299,700−64%
Population8,079−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAYTON VS
Maplewood
Income$65,125−47%
Home value$237,000−71%
Population8,033−55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clayton, Missouri?

Clayton, Missouri has about 17,380 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clayton, Missouri?

The typical household in Clayton, Missouri earns about $123,000 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clayton, Missouri expensive?

In Clayton, Missouri, the median home is worth about $830,000, and the typical rent is about $1,692 a month.

How educated are people in Clayton, Missouri?

About 84.9% of adults age 25 and over in Clayton, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clayton, Missouri?

About 8.0% of people in Clayton, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clayton, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Clayton, Missouri has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,506 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Missouri
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Clayton with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →