CensusEasy
COUNTY

Clay County

Kentucky · 19,465 residents (2025 est.) · 469.296 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 $40,900. Population has fallen 19% since 2000, a loss of 4,635 residents. 15% 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 $90,700. The poverty rate of 32.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 36% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
19,921
−19%since 2000
from 24,556 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
42 / sq mi
−16%since 2009
from 51 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
40.2
+16%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:19,465 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
19K21K22K24K25K1990201020202024Clay County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(1,120)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.7%(943)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.7%(1,326)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.3%(1,050)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.2%(1,036)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3415%(2,981)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.2%(2,830)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.9%(2,760)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.5%(2,695)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.3%(2,054)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.1%(810)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(316)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,900
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,271 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,846
+125%since 2000
from $9,716 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.8%
+18.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
32.4%
−7.4 ptssince 2000
from 39.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.471
−8%since 2010
from 0.512 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.4%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,700
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$724
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $292 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
23.6% rent
Vacancy rate
15.9%
−11.9 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.3%
−11.7 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.0%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+1%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
79
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-Hispanic93%(22,833)
Black4.7%(1,151)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(333)
Asian0.1%(28)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.3%(18,179)
Black3.9%(769)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(421)
Asian0.1%(14)
Other2.7%(538)
Diversity Score
21
+56%since 2009
from 13 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
51
−24%since 2020
from 67 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
Mexican0.5%(92)
Puerto Rican0.4%(74)
Asian origin
Chinese0.1%(29)
Korean0%(9)
Ancestry
American29.4%(5,848)
English17.7%(3,521)
Irish7.9%(1,578)
German3.4%(679)
Scottish2.2%(444)
French0.3%(63)
Greek0.2%(46)
Nigerian0.2%(46)
Polish0.2%(44)
Welsh0.2%(42)
Dutch0.2%(41)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
Italian0.2%(41)
British0.2%(33)
Scotch-Irish0.2%(32)
West Indian0.1%(19)
Haitian0.1%(19)
Armenian0.1%(15)
Swiss0%(4)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.5%
+7.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
73.8%
+24.3 ptssince 2000
from 49.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.6%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.1 min
+29%since 2000
from 22.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.0%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 86.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.4%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.2%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.3%
−16.8 ptssince 2011
from 26.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
42.6%
+5.8 ptssince 2011
from 36.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.2%
−19.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Female
47.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.9%
−49.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
27.6%
+7.1 ptssince 2012
from 20.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.2%
−79.2 ptssince 2013
from 84.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.9%
+16.0 ptssince 2017
from 67.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married35.6%(3,121)
Married48.4%(4,238)
Widowed3.6%(319)
Divorced12.4%(1,085)
Women 15+
Never married22%(1,706)
Married49.6%(3,852)
Widowed14.6%(1,134)
Divorced13.9%(1,077)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Clay County

Monroe County
Pop 18,965
Ben Hill County
Pop 17,099
St. Francis County
Pop 21,800
Marengo County
Pop 18,311
Places similar to Clay County
Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Owsley County
Income$22,188−46%
Home value$80,100−12%
Population3,932−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Leslie County
Income$35,934−12%
Home value$69,000−24%
Population9,627−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527−20%
Home value$118,700+31%
Population29,532+52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Laurel County
Income$57,771+41%
Home value$159,500+76%
Population63,746+227%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Kentucky?

Clay County, Kentucky has about 19,921 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Kentucky earns about $40,900 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Kentucky expensive?

In Clay County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $90,700, and the typical rent is about $724 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Kentucky?

About 15.5% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Kentucky?

About 32.4% of people in Clay County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, Kentucky grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, Kentucky has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,825 residents, a change of about -8 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

8 census tracts
Census Tract 9503.02Census Tract 9502.02Census Tract 9502.01Census Tract 9504Census Tract 9505Census Tract 9503.01Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9506
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 40962ZIP 40972ZIP 40914ZIP 40941
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →