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COUNTY

Clay County

Nebraska · 6,170 residents (2025 est.) · 572.289 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $78,986. Population has declined 13% since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $155,600. 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
Mid-age
median age 39.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,095
−13%since 2000
from 7,039 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
11 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 11 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.1
−2%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,170 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K7K7K7K1990201020202024Clay County
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(402)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96%(366)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.9%(480)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(384)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(289)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3411.2%(682)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(686)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.6%(648)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.1%(922)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.3%(747)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846%(368)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(121)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$78,986
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,259 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,221
+132%since 2000
from $16,870 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.6%
+36.4 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.9%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.428
+7%since 2010
from 0.399 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing16.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction16.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Information9.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade9.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing5.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Finance & insurance5.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$155,600
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$645
−2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $363 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.9%
+4.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.8% in 2000
18.1% rent
Vacancy rate
11.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 13.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.6%
−7.4 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 28.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+13%since 2009
from 1.8 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-Hispanic95.6%(6,726)
Black0.1%(8)
Hispanic / Latino3.5%(245)
Asian0.3%(21)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic87.1%(5,311)
Black0.7%(44)
Hispanic / Latino9.7%(594)
Asian0%(2)
Other2.4%(144)
Diversity Score
29
+99%since 2009
from 14 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
15
−33%since 2020
from 22 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
Mexican8.7%(532)
Guatemalan0.1%(8)
Salvadoran0.1%(7)
Spaniard0.1%(5)
Asian origin
Burmese0%(1)
Thai0%(1)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.2%(13)
Ancestry
German38.2%(2,328)
Irish9.5%(578)
English8.2%(498)
American5.2%(316)
Czech4.7%(287)
Swedish3.7%(225)
Danish1.9%(114)
Polish1.8%(112)
Russian1.5%(92)
French1.2%(76)
Dutch1%(62)
Italian0.9%(54)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.8%(50)
Scottish0.5%(33)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(29)
Welsh0.3%(19)
Swiss0.3%(17)
West Indian0.2%(10)
British0.1%(6)
Nigerian0.1%(5)
Finnish0.1%(4)
Belgian0%(3)
Haitian0%(3)
Arab0%(2)
Syrian0%(2)
Iranian0%(2)
Greek0%(1)
Slovak0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.5%
+6.8 ptssince 2000
from 86.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 5.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+56%since 2000
from 14.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.3%
+10.0 ptssince 2009
from 72.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.7%
−4.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
1.9%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 4.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 65.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.6%
−24.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.6%
−2.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.6%
−80.1 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.9%
+13.4 ptssince 2017
from 74.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.6%
+2.0 ptssince 2016
from 91.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 6.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26%(647)
Married62.2%(1,551)
Widowed3.5%(88)
Divorced8.3%(207)
Women 15+
Never married17.8%(418)
Married60.8%(1,431)
Widowed10%(235)
Divorced11.5%(270)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Places similar to Clay County
Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Adams County
Income$68,365−13%
Home value$193,100+24%
Population31,071+404%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Fillmore County
Income$76,295−3%
Home value$151,000−3%
Population5,458−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Nuckolls County
Income$73,976−6%
Home value$96,500−38%
Population4,100−34%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income$83,994+6%
Home value$253,700+63%
Population9,678+57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Nebraska?

Clay County, Nebraska has about 6,095 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Nebraska earns about $78,986 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Nebraska expensive?

In Clay County, Nebraska, the median home is worth about $155,600, and the typical rent is about $645 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Nebraska?

About 22.3% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Nebraska?

About 6.9% of people in Clay County, Nebraska live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, Nebraska grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, Nebraska has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,028 residents, a change of about -14 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9621Census Tract 9622
10 ZIP codes
ZIP 68979ZIP 68944ZIP 68933ZIP 68935ZIP 68941ZIP 68980ZIP 68938ZIP 68975ZIP 68452ZIP 68954
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →