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CITY · 2020 ACS

Clay

West Virginia · 396 residents · 0.56 sq mi
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The short version

Clay is a city of 396 people in West Virginia. 63.6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 6% of adults. That trails the West Virginia median by roughly 63%. The typical home is worth $63,300. Median household income is $17,708, under the $66,278 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
More affordable
home values down 22%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

396
−33%since 2000
from 593 in 2000
1990 – 2025
39.1
+11%since 2000
from 35.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
0.56 sq mi
Population, 19902024
34544454264073919902000201020202024Clay
2024378
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 57.1%(28)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.6%(30)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.1%(32)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 198.3%(33)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244%(16)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.1%(48)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.1%(52)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.6%(42)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6411.9%(47)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 747.1%(28)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.8%(19)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over5.3%(21)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$17,708
−20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $14,712 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2021
$9,037
−21%since 2000
from $11,415 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
3.1%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
63.6%
+24.5 ptssince 2000
from 39.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information23.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing16.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Manufacturing16.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Wholesale trade13.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade3.3%
US avg: 10%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
Finance & insurance0%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$63,300
−22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$576
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $276 in 2000
US average: $1,124
51.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 48.3% in 2000
48.1% rent
2.76 people
+59%since 2009
from 1.74 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.6
+30%since 2009
from 2.7 in 2009
2009 – 2021
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.7%(585)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(1)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic92.7%(367)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.3%(5)
Asian1%(4)
Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Ancestry
Irish8.5%(61)
English8.4%(60)
Scotch-Irish6.8%(49)
German6.5%(47)
Czech5.6%(40)
Italian3.2%(23)
Dutch2.5%(18)
American2.1%(15)
Scottish1.9%(14)
French1.8%(13)
Russian1.4%(10)
+ 2 more ancestry groups with data
Jamaican0.6%(4)
Section 05

Education

5.6%
−10.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
84.0%
+15.0 ptssince 2000
from 69.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
5.6%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

34.3 min
+43%since 2000
from 24.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.2%
+18.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
27.5%
+8.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

8.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
30.9%
−14.4 ptssince 2011
from 45.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
23.5%
US average: 73.3%
19.7%
−8.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.3%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 45.5% in 2009
50.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.5% in 2009
0.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
0.6%
−15.2 ptssince 2013
from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
83.9%
US average: 91.9%
76.7%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married67.3%(101)
Married28%(42)
Widowed2.7%(4)
Divorced2%(3)
Women 15+
Never married31.9%(29)
Married45.1%(41)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced23.1%(21)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

0.6%
−15.2 ptssince 2013
from 15.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
26.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
5.3%
US average: 13.7%
19.9%
US average: 17.6%
78.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.0%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
29.0%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
87.9%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)8.3%(3)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)19.4%(7)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era19.4%(7)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 36 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
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay, West Virginia?

Clay, West Virginia has about 396 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clay, West Virginia?

The typical household in Clay, West Virginia earns about $17,708 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay, West Virginia expensive?

In Clay, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $63,300, and the typical rent is about $576 a month.

How educated are people in Clay, West Virginia?

About 5.6% 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 63.6% 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 210 residents, a change of about -35 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 →