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CITY · 2020 ACS

Clay Center

Nebraska · 735 residents · 0.731 sq mi
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The short version

Clay Center has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $61,146. Population has declined 15% since 2000. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $93,600. Poverty is rare here, at 6.3% of residents.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
24% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
735
−15%since 2000
from 861 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
39.9
+4%since 2000
from 38.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
7227607988368741990201020202024Clay Center
2024802
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 59%(66)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(44)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 144.5%(33)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.1%(45)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(40)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3414.7%(108)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 448.6%(63)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 549.5%(70)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6415.4%(113)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.4%(91)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.8%(50)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.6%(12)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,146
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,597 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,800
+64%since 2000
from $17,577 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.8%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
6.3%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction11.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade9.9%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance6.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Information5.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Professional, scientific, technical5.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services1.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$93,600
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $57,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$550
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
79.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 76.4% in 2000
20.8% rent
Afford Score
1.5
+3%since 2009
from 1.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Clay Center on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95%(818)
Black0.2%(2)
Hispanic / Latino3%(26)
Asian0.9%(8)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic90.2%(663)
Black0.1%(1)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(40)
Asian0%(0)
Other1.4%(10)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.6%(14)
Ancestry
German47.5%(408)
English12.3%(106)
Irish10.5%(90)
Czech6.8%(58)
American5.7%(49)
Polish5.6%(48)
Danish4.4%(38)
French2.8%(24)
Swedish2.4%(21)
Dutch1.7%(15)
Norwegian1.7%(15)
Austrian1.4%(12)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Jamaican0.7%(6)
British0.6%(5)
Welsh0.6%(5)
Russian0.3%(3)
Croatian0.2%(2)
Scottish0.2%(2)
Swiss0.2%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Czech population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
24.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 20.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
98.3%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 94.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.4%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 7.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.6 min
+20%since 2000
from 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
89.8%
+13.6 ptssince 2009
from 76.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
2.9%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.6%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
73.9%
+11.6 ptssince 2011
from 62.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
33.6%
−27.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Female
51.9%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.7%
−79.7 ptssince 2013
from 84.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25.5%(83)
Married64.4%(210)
Widowed2.1%(7)
Divorced8%(26)
Women 15+
Never married23.6%(77)
Married58.3%(190)
Widowed12.3%(40)
Divorced5.8%(19)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Clay Center to nearby cities

CLAY CENTER VS
Hastings
Income$64,048+5%
Home value$184,700+97%
Population25,121+3341%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY CENTER VS
Grand Island
Income$63,795+4%
Home value$218,600+134%
Population53,943+7289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY CENTER VS
York
Income$63,265+3%
Home value$180,900+93%
Population8,284+1035%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY CENTER VS
Kearney
Income$69,724+14%
Home value$244,600+161%
Population34,782+4665%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay Center, Nebraska?

Clay Center, Nebraska has about 735 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clay Center, Nebraska?

The typical household in Clay Center, Nebraska earns about $61,146 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay Center, Nebraska expensive?

In Clay Center, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $93,600, and the typical rent is about $550 a month.

How educated are people in Clay Center, Nebraska?

About 24.1% of adults age 25 and over in Clay Center, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay Center, Nebraska?

About 6.3% of people in Clay Center, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay Center, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay Center, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 90 residents, a change of about -11 percent over that period.

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

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