United States › West Virginia › Clay CITY
Clay West Virginia · 363 residents (2025 est.) · 0.56 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 378 people, Clay is a city in West Virginia. 77.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. 4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. 22% of homes are owner-occupied. The median age is 30.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. Median home value sits at $44,300.
At a glance
Younger
median age 30.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
4% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 55%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 593 in 2000
363 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 744 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
345 444 542 640 739 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Clay Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy from $11,415 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 39.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.512 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 12.5%
Education & health services 3.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
Transportation & warehousing 0%
Arts, entertainment, food 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$44,300
−55%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$665
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $276 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 48.3% in 2000
77.6% rent
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.45 people
+41%since 2009
from 1.74 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 50.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 98.7%(585)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 96.6%(365)
from 0 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 69.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 24.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 20.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 45.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 23.5% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 19.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 26.7% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 52.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 83.9% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 76.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 99.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 26.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 5.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 19.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 78.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 4.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 29.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 87.9% 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) 18.2%(2)
Share of the 11 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Clay Head to head
Compare Clay to nearby cities CLAY VS
Charleston
Income $65,812
Home value $203,300 +359%
Population 46,117 +12604%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY VS
South Charleston
Income $63,884
Home value $155,400 +251%
Population 13,072 +3501%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY VS
Cross Lanes
Income $63,537
Home value $153,800 +247%
Population 9,671 +2564%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY VS
St. Albans
Income $53,972
Home value $140,800 +218%
Population 10,210 +2713%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Clay, West Virginia? Clay, West Virginia has about 378 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
Is Clay, West Virginia expensive? In Clay, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $44,300, and the typical rent is about $665 a month.
How educated are people in Clay, West Virginia? About 3.9% of adults age 25 and over in Clay, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Clay, West Virginia? About 77.8% of people in Clay, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.
Has Clay, West Virginia grown since 1990? Yes, Clay, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 228 residents, a change of about -38 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 