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COUNTY

Clay County

Illinois · 12,793 residents (2025 est.) · 468.351 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,417. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $97,400. Households here earn about 28% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,052
−10%since 2000
from 14,560 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
28 / sq mi
−5%since 2009
from 29 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.4
+2%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,793 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K14K14K15K1990201020202024Clay County
202413K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(761)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.5%(974)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(779)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.9%(900)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(627)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.6%(1,509)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.5%(1,500)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.6%(1,510)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.5%(1,765)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.2%(1,591)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.9%(639)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.8%(497)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,417
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,599 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,980
+103%since 2000
from $15,771 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.6%
+23.0 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.5%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.457
+5%since 2010
from 0.436 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade21.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information10.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$97,400
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$735
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.9% in 2000
20.7% rent
Vacancy rate
13.9%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.7%
−18.5 ptssince 2009
from 38.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.6
−13%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
26
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Clay County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(14,297)
Black0.1%(16)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(88)
Asian0.5%(76)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.8%(12,377)
Black0.3%(38)
Hispanic / Latino2%(264)
Asian0.2%(28)
Other2.6%(345)
Diversity Score
12
+70%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
17
−41%since 2020
from 29 in 2020
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
Mexican1.9%(247)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(14)
Vietnamese0.1%(8)
Ancestry
German20.7%(2,708)
Irish13%(1,702)
American11.8%(1,534)
English8.4%(1,093)
Polish2.4%(307)
Italian2.2%(283)
Scottish1.2%(156)
Dutch0.9%(119)
Norwegian0.7%(89)
French0.7%(86)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(73)
British0.4%(57)
+ 11 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.3%(40)
Turkish0.2%(27)
Welsh0.1%(16)
Belgian0.1%(11)
Swiss0.1%(9)
Swedish0.1%(8)
Slovak0%(6)
Czech0%(4)
Danish0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Polish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.1%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
90.5%
+14.6 ptssince 2000
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.0 min
+77%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
85.6%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.6%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−4.6 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.6%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 59.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.4%
−26.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.9%
−38.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.0%
+3.5 ptssince 2012
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.1%
−84.0 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.9%
+12.4 ptssince 2017
from 73.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2016
from 2.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.1%(1,516)
Married52%(2,710)
Widowed4%(210)
Divorced14.9%(779)
Women 15+
Never married22.7%(1,206)
Married49.4%(2,628)
Widowed13.5%(716)
Divorced14.5%(773)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 12,866
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Pop 13,285
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Pop 13,216
Places similar to Clay County
Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Richland County
Income$62,455+3%
Home value$112,000+15%
Population15,219+19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income$80,404+33%
Home value$189,500+95%
Population34,519+170%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$55,521−8%
Home value$110,700+14%
Population15,882+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$61,240+1%
Home value$103,000+6%
Population36,382+184%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Illinois?

Clay County, Illinois has about 13,052 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Illinois earns about $60,417 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Illinois expensive?

In Clay County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $97,400, and the typical rent is about $735 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Illinois?

About 13.1% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Illinois?

About 17.5% of people in Clay County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,408 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9721Census Tract 9720Census Tract 9722Census Tract 9719
7 ZIP codes
ZIP 62839ZIP 62858ZIP 62899ZIP 62824ZIP 62426ZIP 62434ZIP 62879
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →