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COUNTY

Clay County

Tennessee · 7,821 residents (2025 est.) · 236.529 sq mi
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The short version

Clay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $39,972. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 11% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $136,400. With a median age of 48.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 43% less than the Tennessee median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,670
−4%since 2000
from 7,976 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
32 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 34 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.5
+22%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,821 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K8K8K8K1990201020202024Clay County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(323)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.2%(249)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.9%(527)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(514)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.8%(365)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 346.6%(507)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.8%(1,056)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.3%(1,022)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.6%(1,193)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.3%(1,094)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.5%(649)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.2%(171)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,972
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,958 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,731
+86%since 2000
from $13,320 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
30.1%
+21.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
24.2%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 19.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.437
−1%since 2010
from 0.443 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade15.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade15.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction7.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$136,400
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$557
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $252 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.4%
−5.8 ptssince 2000
from 80.1% in 2000
25.6% rent
Vacancy rate
13.0%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.5%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
27.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+39%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
12
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-Hispanic96.1%(7,664)
Black1.3%(105)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(108)
Asian0.1%(11)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic93.8%(7,196)
Black3.3%(256)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(18)
Asian0.5%(41)
Other2.1%(159)
Diversity Score
15
+539%since 2009
from 2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
30
+150%since 2020
from 12 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
Cuban0.2%(18)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(40)
Chinese0%(1)
Ancestry
American24.9%(1,913)
Irish12.5%(961)
English8.4%(641)
German7.8%(601)
Italian2.4%(185)
Polish1.4%(110)
Scottish0.8%(60)
French0.5%(42)
Austrian0.3%(26)
Czech0.2%(19)
Norwegian0.2%(19)
+ 3 more ancestry groups with data
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.8%
+26.4 ptssince 2000
from 58.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 2.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.6 min
+36%since 2000
from 20.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
85.0%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.7%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
10.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2011
from 8.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
45.9%
−6.1 ptssince 2011
from 52.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
28.2%
−23.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
51.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.6%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.0%
+6.0 ptssince 2012
from 17.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−77.6 ptssince 2013
from 85.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.4%
+28.6 ptssince 2017
from 50.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.4%
+0.6 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
−1.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married21.4%(687)
Married56.3%(1,804)
Widowed7.8%(250)
Divorced14.5%(466)
Women 15+
Never married18.8%(634)
Married51.7%(1,739)
Widowed15%(506)
Divorced14.4%(485)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Clay County

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Pop 7,570
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Pop 7,818
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Pop 8,682
Perry County
Pop 7,425
Places similar to Clay County
Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Monroe County
Income$51,280+28%
Home value$115,900−15%
Population11,191+43%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Jackson County
Income$47,951+20%
Home value$155,500+14%
Population12,466+59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Cumberland County
Income$40,000same
Home value$141,100+3%
Population5,992−23%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Overton County
Income$48,959+22%
Home value$173,200+27%
Population23,787+204%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, Tennessee?

Clay County, Tennessee has about 7,670 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, Tennessee earns about $39,972 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, Tennessee expensive?

In Clay County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $136,400, and the typical rent is about $557 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, Tennessee?

About 11.5% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, Tennessee?

About 24.2% of people in Clay County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 432 residents, a change of about 6 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9550Census Tract 9551
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 38551ZIP 38575
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →