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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Clay County

Arkansas · 14,552 residents · 639 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County is a county of 14,552 people in Arkansas. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $79,600. At a median age of 43.9, this is an older place than the country as a whole. The foreign-born share is 1%. Median household income is $37,933, under the $66,278 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

14,552
−17%since 2000
from 17,609 in 2000
1990 – 2025
43.9
+8%since 2000
from 40.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
639 sq mi
Population, 19902024
14K15K16K17K18K19902000201020202024Clay County
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.8%(849)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(847)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.2%(898)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.2%(905)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.5%(807)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411%(1,597)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.8%(1,571)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5412.2%(1,777)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.4%(2,099)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7411.9%(1,735)
US avg: 10%
75 to 847.4%(1,072)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over2.7%(395)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$37,933
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,345 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$22,935
+58%since 2000
from $14,512 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
20.8%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 12.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
20.4%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 17.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information14.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade11.9%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing11.2%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction10.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$79,600
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $40,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$625
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $320 in 2000
US average: $1,124
71.0%
−3.9 ptssince 2000
from 74.9% in 2000
29.0% rent
2.26 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.24 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
2.1
+7%since 2009
from 2.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
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-Hispanic97.5%(17,177)
Black0.2%(29)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(140)
Asian0.1%(14)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(13,574)
Black0.3%(40)
Hispanic / Latino2.2%(327)
Asian0.1%(14)
Other2.5%(362)
15
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1.2%(176)
Chilean0.2%(36)
Spaniard0.2%(24)
Asian origin
Ancestry
American16.9%(2,484)
Irish12.6%(1,847)
German11.6%(1,701)
English8.3%(1,216)
French1.9%(279)
Dutch1.5%(224)
Italian1.1%(168)
Scottish0.9%(136)
Norwegian0.8%(121)
British0.7%(103)
Russian0.3%(44)
+ 13 more ancestry groups with data
Czech0.3%(43)
Polish0.3%(42)
Swedish0.2%(30)
Welsh0.2%(25)
Swiss0.1%(17)
Iranian0.1%(9)
Bulgarian0.1%(8)
Slovak0%(2)
Danish0%(1)
Section 05

Education

13.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
83.5%
+22.9 ptssince 2000
from 60.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
6.4%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

22.9 min
+43%since 2000
from 16.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
80.9%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 86.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
6.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

5.8%
−7.2 ptssince 2011
from 13.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
54.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 57.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.0%
US average: 73.3%
31.5%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 29.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
50.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
0.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.8%
−13.4 ptssince 2013
from 19.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
80.8%
US average: 91.9%
86.3%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married23.2%(1,328)
Married55.7%(3,187)
Widowed5.1%(292)
Divorced16%(917)
Women 15+
Never married18.8%(1,137)
Married51.1%(3,091)
Widowed13.7%(827)
Divorced16.4%(995)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

5.8%
−13.4 ptssince 2013
from 19.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
36.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
20.2%
US average: 13.7%
26.4%
US average: 17.6%
34.6%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
4.2%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
54.8%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
56.6%
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)21.2%(207)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)33.1%(323)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era26.4%(257)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War6.2%(60)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II2.3%(22)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 975 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 County, Arkansas?

Clay County, Arkansas has about 14,552 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clay County, Arkansas?

The typical household in Clay County, Arkansas earns about $37,933 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Arkansas expensive?

In Clay County, Arkansas, the median home is worth about $79,600, and the typical rent is about $625 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Arkansas?

About 13.6% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Arkansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Arkansas?

About 20.4% of people in Clay County, Arkansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, Arkansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, Arkansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 3,555 residents, a change of about -20 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 →