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COUNTY

Clay County

South Dakota · 15,031 residents (2025 est.) · 412.022 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#8Youngest by median ageof 3,14424.9
The short version

Clay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,850. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 45% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $232,300. At a median age of 24.9, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 24.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
45% 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
15,219
+12%since 2000
from 13,537 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
37 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 33 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
24.9
Unchangedsince 2000
from 24.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,031 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K14K15K15K1990201020202024Clay County
202415K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.7%(708)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.4%(523)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(964)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1916.4%(2,499)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 2419.3%(2,931)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413%(1,977)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448.6%(1,307)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 547.9%(1,203)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 648.2%(1,251)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 747.3%(1,117)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 843%(464)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.8%(275)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,850
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,535 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,824
+113%since 2000
from $14,452 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.6%
+23.1 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 21.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.480
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.479 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Retail trade6.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Construction5.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade3.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Finance & insurance2.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services2%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$232,300
+73%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $73,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$770
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $440 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.8%
−3.5 ptssince 2000
from 54.4% in 2000
49.2% rent
Vacancy rate
11.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 21.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
43.7%
−11.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.1
+19%since 2009
from 3.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
57
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-Hispanic92.3%(12,498)
Black0.9%(128)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(120)
Asian1.9%(262)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic84.2%(12,807)
Black1.8%(278)
Hispanic / Latino3.3%(504)
Asian3%(452)
Other7.7%(1,178)
Diversity Score
35
+68%since 2009
from 21 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
13
−17%since 2020
from 16 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
Mexican2.3%(350)
Spaniard0.6%(95)
Colombian0.1%(20)
Asian origin
Asian Indian1.4%(211)
Nepalese0.5%(81)
Chinese0.5%(73)
Vietnamese0.3%(44)
Burmese0.2%(26)
Korean0%(5)
Pacific Islander origin
Marshallese0.1%(19)
Samoan0.1%(11)
Tongan0.1%(11)
Ancestry
German34.1%(5,188)
Irish11.2%(1,701)
Norwegian9.1%(1,382)
English6.3%(960)
Danish4.2%(644)
Swedish3.9%(595)
American3%(449)
Czech2.6%(393)
Dutch2.5%(373)
French2.1%(324)
Italian1.7%(265)
Scottish1.5%(233)
+ 21 more ancestry groups with data
Scotch-Irish1.5%(232)
Welsh0.8%(115)
Finnish0.7%(113)
Polish0.7%(101)
Russian0.7%(101)
Nigerian0.3%(53)
British0.2%(37)
Ukrainian0.2%(25)
Slovak0.1%(21)
Austrian0.1%(19)
Romanian0.1%(19)
Croatian0.1%(12)
Ethiopian0.1%(10)
Belgian0.1%(8)
Arab0%(5)
Swiss0%(5)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest English population · Largest Danish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
45.4%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 38.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.3%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 89.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
20.2%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.5 min
+43%since 2000
from 13.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.4%
+10.3 ptssince 2009
from 65.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
5.8%
−6.8 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
8.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.2%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2011
from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
67.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2011
from 67.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.6%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.9%
−32.5 ptssince 2009
from 74.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
3.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.1%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.2%
+4.8 ptssince 2012
from 8.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
9.1%
−81.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2017
from 84.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.8%
+1.8 ptssince 2016
from 94.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.8%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married56.1%(3,667)
Married34%(2,220)
Widowed1.3%(88)
Divorced8.5%(556)
Women 15+
Never married54%(3,508)
Married34%(2,205)
Widowed6.5%(420)
Divorced5.5%(360)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Union County
Income$89,636+58%
Home value$301,100+30%
Population17,402+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Yankton County
Income$72,821+28%
Home value$225,900−3%
Population23,635+57%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Cedar County
Income$73,578+29%
Home value$185,000−20%
Population8,373−44%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income$99,166+74%
Home value$348,300+50%
Population77,145+413%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, South Dakota?

Clay County, South Dakota has about 15,219 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clay County, South Dakota?

The typical household in Clay County, South Dakota earns about $56,850 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, South Dakota expensive?

In Clay County, South Dakota, the median home is worth about $232,300, and the typical rent is about $770 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, South Dakota?

About 45.4% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, South Dakota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, South Dakota?

About 19.7% of people in Clay County, South Dakota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, South Dakota grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, South Dakota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,033 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9659Census Tract 9657Census Tract 9658
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 57069ZIP 57010ZIP 57073
Up the hierarchy
All counties in South Dakota
Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Clay County, South Dakota: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy