CensusEasy
COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Clay County

Kentucky · 21,746 residents · 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 $12,732. Population has declined 11% since 2000. 7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $27,600. The poverty rate of 40.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 43% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 30.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
7% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,746
−11%vs 2000
vs 24,556 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.2
−13%vs 2000
vs 34.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K21K22K24K25K1990201020202024Clay County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57.5%(1,621)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.2%(1,775)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.2%(2,008)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.8%(1,917)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 247.4%(1,607)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.5%(3,591)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414.6%(3,171)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.5%(2,056)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 647.7%(1,682)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 745.9%(1,286)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 843.7%(805)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1%(227)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$12,732
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $16,271 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$6,084
−37%vs 2000
vs $9,716 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
40.2%
+0.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 39.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$27,600
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $34,500 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$201
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $292 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
71.6%
−3.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 74.7% in 2000
28.4% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic98%(21,309)
Black1.7%(370)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(44)
Asian0%(6)
Other0.3%(61)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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
7.4%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 8.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
38.9%
−10.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 49.4% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
3.8%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.4% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.2 min
+21%vs 2000
vs 22.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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+74%
Home value$80,100+190%
Population3,932−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Leslie County
Income$35,934+182%
Home value$69,000+150%
Population9,627−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527+155%
Home value$118,700+330%
Population29,532+52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Laurel County
Income$57,771+354%
Home value$159,500+478%
Population63,746+227%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Kentucky?

Clay County, Kentucky has about 21,746 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Kentucky earns about $12,732 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 $27,600, and the typical rent is about $201 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Kentucky?

About 7.4% 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 40.2% of people in Clay County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.

Keep going

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 →