United States › North Carolina › Clayton CITY
Clayton North Carolina · 32,633 residents (2025 est.) · 16.7 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 29,320 people, Clayton is a city in North Carolina. Since 2000 the city has more than tripled, up 22,347 people. The median age is 33.0, younger than the US median of 38.9. There are 1,751 people per square mile. The poverty rate is 5.9%, under the national 12.5%. 8% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 6,973 in 2000
32,633 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,751 / sq mi
+100%since 2009
from 874 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 10K 17K 24K 32K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Clayton Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $78,822
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $22,332 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.402 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 7.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Education & health services 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
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$329,600
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,661
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $654 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 64.7% in 2000
37.3% rent
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.79 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 31.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 41.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 68.2%(4,755)
Hispanic / Latino 10.1%(703)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 54.2%(15,886)
Hispanic / Latino 13.2%(3,860)
from 65 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data from 23.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 69.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 72.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 42.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 82.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 96.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 77.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 92.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 6.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 38.3%(4,265)
Women 15+
Never married 32.1%(3,891)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 14.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 62.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 72.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 26.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 37.2%(535)
Gulf War (1990s) 24.6%(354)
Share of the 1,438 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Clayton Head to head
Compare Clayton to nearby cities CLAYTON VS
Wendell
Income $95,787 +22%
Home value $330,500 same
Population 19,687 −40%
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CLAYTON VS
Knightdale
Income $103,220 +31%
Home value $380,100 +15%
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CLAYTON VS
Garner
Income $78,756 same
Home value $355,000 +8%
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CLAYTON VS
Smithfield
Income $43,270 −45%
Home value $242,500 −26%
Population 13,114 −60%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Clayton, North Carolina? Clayton, North Carolina has about 29,320 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Clayton, North Carolina? The typical household in Clayton, North Carolina earns about $78,822 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Clayton, North Carolina expensive? In Clayton, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $329,600, and the typical rent is about $1,661 a month.
How educated are people in Clayton, North Carolina? About 40.4% of adults age 25 and over in Clayton, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Clayton, North Carolina? About 5.9% of people in Clayton, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Clayton, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Clayton, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 24,564 residents, a change of about 516 percent over that period.
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