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COUNTY

Clay County

West Virginia · 7,538 residents (2025 est.) · 341.939 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#123Fastest shrinkingof 3,135-6.4%
The short version

Clay County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,318. Population has fallen 24% since 2000, a loss of 2,495 residents. 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 $109,100. With a median age of 45.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 29% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
11% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 27%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,835
−24%since 2000
from 10,330 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
23 / sq mi
−22%since 2009
from 29 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
45.4
+23%since 2000
from 36.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,538 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K9K10K11K1990201020202024Clay County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.9%(382)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.7%(445)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.1%(558)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.7%(685)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.6%(364)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.3%(569)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(888)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.8%(1,001)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.1%(1,185)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7413.9%(1,090)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.9%(466)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(202)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,318
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,120 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,781
+106%since 2000
from $12,021 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
26.3%
+11.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
26.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 27.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.477
+4%since 2010
from 0.460 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade12.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing5.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade5.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$109,100
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$651
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $278 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 79.2% in 2000
24.0% rent
Vacancy rate
25.0%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.5%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.5%
+14.0 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+16%since 2009
from 2.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
15
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-Hispanic97.9%(10,108)
Black0.1%(7)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(42)
Asian0%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic96.8%(7,583)
Black0.1%(4)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(18)
Asian0%(0)
Other2.9%(230)
Diversity Score
8
+33%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
26
−34%since 2020
from 39 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
Mexican0.2%(14)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English22.8%(1,783)
German15.5%(1,218)
American15.3%(1,202)
Irish11.7%(919)
Scottish2.3%(180)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(87)
Polish0.8%(60)
Italian0.6%(44)
Dutch0.4%(34)
Finnish0.4%(32)
French0.2%(12)
Danish0.1%(11)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Hungarian0.1%(11)
Croatian0.1%(8)
Swiss0.1%(8)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest Scottish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.3%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.9%
+21.2 ptssince 2000
from 63.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
45.4 min
+31%since 2000
from 34.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% 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
10.3%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
43.6%
−1.9 ptssince 2011
from 45.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
24.5%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.2%
−23.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−43.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
20.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2012
from 21.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−78.6 ptssince 2013
from 84.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.0%
+18.1 ptssince 2017
from 65.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
100.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 99.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.3%(960)
Married51.6%(1,688)
Widowed4.2%(137)
Divorced14.9%(488)
Women 15+
Never married22.8%(723)
Married51.8%(1,645)
Widowed15.7%(499)
Divorced9.8%(310)
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
Nicholas County
Income$54,639+29%
Home value$121,600+11%
Population23,848+216%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Roane County
Income$45,778+8%
Home value$122,100+12%
Population13,317+77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Braxton County
Income$50,331+19%
Home value$117,900+8%
Population11,885+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Kanawha County
Income$60,943+44%
Home value$147,300+35%
Population172,381+2187%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, West Virginia?

Clay County, West Virginia has about 7,835 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Clay County, West Virginia?

The typical household in Clay County, West Virginia earns about $42,318 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Clay County, West Virginia expensive?

In Clay County, West Virginia, the median home is worth about $109,100, and the typical rent is about $651 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, West Virginia?

About 11.3% of adults age 25 and over in Clay County, West Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Clay County, West Virginia?

About 26.4% of people in Clay County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Clay County, West Virginia grown since 1990?

Yes, Clay County, West Virginia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,148 residents, a change of about -22 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 9579Census Tract 9580Census Tract 9581
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 25043ZIP 25125ZIP 25285ZIP 25019ZIP 25113ZIP 25164ZIP 25030ZIP 25133ZIP 25141ZIP 25111ZIP 25088ZIP 25211
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →