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COUNTY

Clay County

Minnesota · 67,734 residents (2025 est.) · 1,045.176 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,172. Population has grown 29% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $265,500. At a median age of 33.7, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It ranks in the top 5% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.7
US median: 38.9
More educated
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 73%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
66,059
+29%since 2000
from 51,229 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
63 / sq mi
+20%since 2009
from 53 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
33.7
+4%since 2000
from 32.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:67,734 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
49K54K58K63K68K1990201020202024Clay County
202466K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.3%(4,178)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.8%(4,471)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.6%(5,009)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.2%(5,441)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.6%(6,331)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413%(8,566)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414%(9,235)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.5%(6,935)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410.1%(6,645)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(5,257)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844%(2,614)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.1%(1,377)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,172
+18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,889 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,936
+127%since 2000
from $17,557 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.5%
+25.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.3%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 13.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
+10%since 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information10.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$265,500
+73%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,019
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $421 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.9%
−5.7 ptssince 2000
from 71.6% in 2000
34.1% rent
Vacancy rate
4.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.5%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.0%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 54.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+12%since 2009
from 2.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
72
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-Hispanic92.4%(47,330)
Black0.5%(261)
Hispanic / Latino3.7%(1,872)
Asian0.9%(439)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic83.5%(55,133)
Black4.6%(3,014)
Hispanic / Latino5%(3,290)
Asian1.6%(1,035)
Other5.4%(3,587)
Diversity Score
37
+91%since 2009
from 19 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
24
−7%since 2020
from 26 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
Mexican3.5%(2,301)
Puerto Rican0.5%(345)
Cuban0.1%(74)
Colombian0.1%(57)
Venezuelan0.1%(37)
Spaniard0%(25)
Argentine0%(16)
Peruvian0%(12)
Asian origin
Hmong0.3%(220)
Vietnamese0.3%(195)
Filipino0.2%(151)
Bangladeshi0.2%(138)
Asian Indian0.1%(96)
Sri Lankan0.1%(64)
Korean0.1%(34)
Laotian0.1%(34)
Chinese0%(29)
Nepalese0%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0%(32)
Ancestry
German29.7%(19,639)
Norwegian27%(17,860)
Irish6.6%(4,389)
English5.7%(3,779)
Swedish5.3%(3,522)
French2.9%(1,900)
Polish2.6%(1,707)
American2.1%(1,414)
Dutch1.6%(1,037)
Arab1.4%(943)
Italian1.4%(894)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Finnish1.1%(732)
Danish1%(681)
Scottish1%(671)
Czech1%(645)
Somali0.8%(552)
Russian0.6%(393)
Scotch-Irish0.4%(289)
Welsh0.3%(216)
West Indian0.3%(197)
Croatian0.3%(180)
Belgian0.3%(179)
Kenyan0.3%(177)
Swiss0.3%(172)
Haitian0.2%(144)
Iraqi0.2%(141)
Ghanaian0.2%(130)
Ukrainian0.2%(118)
Greek0.1%(89)
Lebanese0.1%(85)
British0.1%(67)
Hungarian0.1%(63)
Syrian0.1%(51)
Austrian0.1%(50)
Romanian0.1%(46)
Nigerian0.1%(43)
Serbian0.1%(41)
Jamaican0%(29)
Latvian0%(28)
Barbadian0%(24)
Ethiopian0%(21)
Brazilian0%(18)
Canadian0%(14)
Slovak0%(14)
Iranian0%(13)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Swedish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.3%
+14.5 ptssince 2000
from 24.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.3%
+8.6 ptssince 2000
from 86.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.5%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.7 min
+70%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
74.5%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 79.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.8%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.3%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.1%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 5.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
70.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 71.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
42.8%
−21.5 ptssince 2009
from 64.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.2% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.8% in 2009
Foreign born
4.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.5%
−41.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2012
from 8.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.0%
−88.4 ptssince 2013
from 92.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.8%
+15.0 ptssince 2017
from 74.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 94.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 1.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married39.4%(10,179)
Married51.7%(13,343)
Widowed1.9%(491)
Divorced7%(1,804)
Women 15+
Never married34.6%(9,199)
Married48.6%(12,931)
Widowed6.4%(1,689)
Divorced10.4%(2,765)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Norman County
Income$72,260−11%
Home value$147,100−45%
Population6,336−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Becker County
Income$71,388−12%
Home value$291,000+10%
Population35,497−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Cass County
Income$75,555−7%
Home value$298,000+12%
Population201,794+198%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Wilkin County
Income$71,410−12%
Home value$182,200−31%
Population6,288−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Minnesota?

Clay County, Minnesota has about 66,059 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Minnesota earns about $81,172 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Minnesota expensive?

In Clay County, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $265,500, and the typical rent is about $1,019 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Minnesota?

About 39.3% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Minnesota?

About 13.3% of people in Clay County, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,637 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

16 census tracts
Census Tract 302.01Census Tract 301.10Census Tract 301.08Census Tract 301.11Census Tract 205Census Tract 302.02Census Tract 301.12Census Tract 206Census Tract 204Census Tract 303Census Tract 301.09Census Tract 203Census Tract 207Census Tract 304Census Tract 301.06Census Tract 301.07
13 ZIP codes
ZIP 56560ZIP 56549ZIP 56529ZIP 56514ZIP 56547ZIP 56580ZIP 56563ZIP 56585ZIP 56562ZIP 56552ZIP 56536ZIP 56546ZIP 56525
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →