CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Clay County

Kentucky · 21,730 residents · 469.296 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Corbin micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Clay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $20,175. Population has declined 12% since 2000. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $51,200. The poverty rate of 34.4% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 51% less than the Kentucky median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.7
US median: 37.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,730
−12%since 2000
from 24,556 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
46 / sq mi
−12%since 2000
from 52 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.7
+9%since 2000
from 34.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K21K22K24K25K1990201020202024Clay County
202420K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$20,175
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,271 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$12,300
+27%since 2000
from $9,716 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
9.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.8% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
34.4%
−5.3 ptssince 2000
from 39.7% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.512
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information12.2%
US avg: 11.5%
Retail trade10.9%
US avg: 10.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Wholesale trade6.8%
US avg: 7.2%
Manufacturing6.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services2.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 3.1%
Other services1.2%
US avg: 7%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.9%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$51,200
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$411
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $292 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
28.7%
−46.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.7% in 2000
26.9% rent
Vacancy rate
27.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
27.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
47.4%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.5
+20%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score14.7%(3,620)
2010
White, non-Hispanic92.9%(20,189)
Black4.1%(900)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(402)
Asian0.1%(26)
Other0.5%(112)
Diversity Score15.8%(3,438)
Diversity Score
16
+7%since 2000
from 15 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
7.5%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
58.9%
+9.5 ptssince 2000
from 49.4% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
−3%since 2000
from 22.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
85.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 86.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
8.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
1.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
12.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
23.0%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
23.6%
−31.3 ptssince 2009
from 54.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
52.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Female
47.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
5.4%
−47.9 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+10%
Home value$80,100+56%
Population3,932−80%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Leslie County
Income$35,934+78%
Home value$69,000+35%
Population9,627−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Knox County
Income$32,527+61%
Home value$118,700+132%
Population29,532+52%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Laurel County
Income$57,771+186%
Home value$159,500+212%
Population63,746+227%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Kentucky?

Clay County, Kentucky has about 21,730 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Kentucky earns about $20,175 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 $51,200, and the typical rent is about $411 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Kentucky?

About 7.5% 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 34.4% 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 16 residents, a change of about -0 percent over that period.

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
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Kentucky
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →