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CITY

Clayton

North Carolina · 32,633 residents (2025 est.) · 16.741 sq mi
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The short version

Clayton has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,822. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 22,347 residents. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $329,600. At a median age of 33.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Poverty is rare here, at 5.9% of residents.

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

Total population
29,320
+320%since 2000
from 6,973 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,751 / sq mi
+100%since 2009
from 874 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
33.0
+1%since 2000
from 32.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:32,633 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K10K17K24K32K1990201020202024Clayton
202429K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.5%(1,900)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.5%(2,206)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(1,942)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.4%(2,455)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247.1%(2,091)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3416.2%(4,761)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.1%(4,126)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.1%(3,840)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.3%(3,006)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 746.6%(1,927)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.9%(862)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.7%(204)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,822
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,750 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,564
+68%since 2000
from $22,332 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.8%
+24.1 ptssince 2009
from 29.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.9%
−5.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.368
−9%since 2010
from 0.402 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade7.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$329,600
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,661
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $654 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
62.7%
−2.0 ptssince 2000
from 64.7% in 2000
37.3% rent
Vacancy rate
2.5%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
26.6%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
53.1%
+12.0 ptssince 2009
from 41.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+37%since 2009
from 3.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
67
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-Hispanic68.2%(4,755)
Black19.9%(1,387)
Hispanic / Latino10.1%(703)
Asian0.8%(54)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic54.2%(15,886)
Black27.6%(8,079)
Hispanic / Latino13.2%(3,860)
Asian0.7%(196)
Other4.4%(1,299)
Diversity Score
76
+17%since 2009
from 65 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
Mexican4.2%(1,235)
South American3.6%(1,054)
Colombian2.5%(726)
Puerto Rican1.7%(489)
Cuban1.5%(437)
Honduran1.2%(356)
Argentine0.5%(142)
Dominican0.4%(120)
Peruvian0.2%(65)
Ecuadorian0.2%(59)
Venezuelan0.2%(55)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Nicaraguan0.2%(49)
Spaniard0.1%(40)
Asian origin
Filipino0.4%(103)
Chinese0.2%(44)
Thai0.1%(19)
Korean0.1%(15)
Uzbek0.1%(15)
Ancestry
Irish8.3%(2,432)
American8.1%(2,368)
English7.8%(2,296)
German6.1%(1,778)
Italian4%(1,176)
Arab2%(587)
Polish1.8%(521)
French1.6%(466)
Scottish1.4%(422)
Ukrainian1.3%(391)
Welsh1.3%(385)
+ 28 more ancestry groups with data
West Indian1.3%(380)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(312)
Jordanian0.9%(275)
Greek0.8%(240)
British0.7%(217)
Ethiopian0.6%(189)
Nigerian0.6%(173)
Swedish0.6%(164)
Haitian0.4%(124)
Norwegian0.4%(112)
Palestinian0.3%(96)
Austrian0.3%(79)
Dutch0.2%(69)
Hungarian0.2%(69)
Russian0.2%(64)
Jamaican0.2%(44)
Slovak0.1%(42)
Danish0.1%(39)
Czech0.1%(29)
Swiss0.1%(28)
Latvian0.1%(17)
Guyanese0.1%(15)
Lithuanian0.1%(15)
Canadian0%(14)
Moroccan0%(10)
Serbian0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.4%
+17.0 ptssince 2000
from 23.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.6%
+12.2 ptssince 2000
from 83.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.4%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 5.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.1 min
+36%since 2000
from 22.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.7%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.9%
−9.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
18.2%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.5%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% 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
3.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2011
from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
73.4%
+4.0 ptssince 2011
from 69.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.8%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
46.3%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 67.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
47.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
Female
52.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 53.0% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−38.1 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.0%
−77.8 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.5%
+10.2 ptssince 2017
from 82.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
84.3%
−7.7 ptssince 2016
from 92.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
10.9%
+4.5 ptssince 2016
from 6.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married38.3%(4,265)
Married52.2%(5,820)
Widowed1.7%(185)
Divorced7.9%(876)
Women 15+
Never married32.1%(3,891)
Married44.8%(5,427)
Widowed7.1%(857)
Divorced16.1%(1,951)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Clayton to nearby cities

CLAYTON VS
Wendell
Income$95,787+22%
Home value$330,500same
Population19,687−40%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAYTON VS
Knightdale
Income$103,220+31%
Home value$380,100+15%
Population23,144−29%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAYTON VS
Garner
Income$78,756same
Home value$355,000+8%
Population41,562+27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAYTON VS
Smithfield
Income$43,270−45%
Home value$242,500−26%
Population13,114−60%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →