United States › North Carolina › Clay County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Clay County North Carolina · 11,089 residents · 215 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Clay County is a county of 11,089 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 55.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. Owners hold 80% of the housing stock. Growth has run 26% since 2000, or 2,314 more people. 4% of residents were born outside the United States. That trails the North Carolina median by roughly 26%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 55.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 44%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 46.7 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K 8K 9K 11K 12K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Clay County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,160
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,397 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $18,221 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 2.8%
Public administration 2.1%
Education & health services 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.2%
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$197,600
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $91,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$682
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $408 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 84.5% in 2000
20.3% rent
2.09 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.10 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97.3%(8,536)
Hispanic / Latino 0.8%(73)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 90.6%(10,044)
Hispanic / Latino 3.9%(438)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 15.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 76.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 16.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 82.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 12.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 50.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 26.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 23.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 25.8%(1,274)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 23.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 5.5%(53)
Share of the 968 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Clay County Head to head
Compare Clay County to nearby counties CLAY COUNTY VS
Towns County
Income $59,135 +40%
Home value $316,100 +60%
Population 13,285 +9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income $53,628 +27%
Home value $232,300 +18%
Population 30,830 +152%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Macon County
Income $59,061 +40%
Home value $251,900 +27%
Population 39,232 +221%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Union County
Income $66,176 +57%
Home value $307,400 +56%
Population 27,859 +128%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Clay County, North Carolina? Clay County, North Carolina has about 11,089 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Clay County, North Carolina? The typical household in Clay County, North Carolina earns about $42,160 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Clay County, North Carolina expensive? In Clay County, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $197,600, and the typical rent is about $682 a month.
How educated are people in Clay County, North Carolina? About 27.0% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Clay County, North Carolina? About 13.5% of people in Clay County, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.
Has Clay County, North Carolina grown since 1990? Yes, Clay County, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,934 residents, a change of about 55 percent over that period.
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