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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Clay County

Illinois · 13,288 residents · 468.351 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $52,167. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $84,400.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% 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
13,288
−9%since 2000
from 14,560 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
28 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 31 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.9
+8%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
13K13K14K14K15K1990201020202024Clay County
202413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,167
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,599 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,950
+90%since 2000
from $15,771 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
32.0%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
16.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade27.1%
US avg: 10%
Information8.1%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Wholesale trade5.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services4.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Construction4.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing2.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services1.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$84,400
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $50,200 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$625
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $348 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
78.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 79.9% in 2000
21.8% rent
Afford Score
1.6
−1%since 2000
from 1.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score3.1%(449)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic93.9%(12,481)
Black0.2%(30)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(223)
Asian0.6%(77)
Other2.8%(369)
Diversity Score12.8%(1,697)
Segregation Score28.9%(3,837)
Diversity Score
13
+314%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
29
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.3%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.7%
+11.7 ptssince 2000
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.2 min
+72%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
85.9%
+5.8 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.6%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 9.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
60.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2011
from 59.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
30.5%
−29.6 ptssince 2009
from 60.1% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Foreign born
0.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.2%
−83.9 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Clay County

Charlton County
Pop 13,121
Bleckley County
Pop 12,866
Towns County
Pop 13,285
Ford County
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+20%
Home value$112,000+33%
Population15,219+19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Effingham County
Income$80,404+54%
Home value$189,500+125%
Population34,519+170%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Wayne County
Income$55,521+6%
Home value$110,700+31%
Population15,882+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$61,240+17%
Home value$103,000+22%
Population36,382+184%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Illinois?

Clay County, Illinois has about 13,288 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Illinois earns about $52,167 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 $84,400, and the typical rent is about $625 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Illinois?

About 15.3% 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 16.8% 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 1,172 residents, a change of about -8 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

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