CensusEasy
COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Clay County

West Virginia · 9,983 residents · 341.939 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 $12,855. Population has declined 3% since 2000. 6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $31,600. The poverty rate of 39.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 38% less than the West Virginia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 32.8
US median: 33.0
Less educated
6% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 12%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,983
−3%vs 2000
vs 10,330 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
32.8
−11%vs 2000
vs 36.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K9K10K11K1990201020202024Clay County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 57%(700)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 97.9%(791)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.6%(960)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.5%(846)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.9%(590)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414.2%(1,414)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4415.7%(1,569)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 548.9%(892)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.4%(939)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 747.2%(722)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844%(404)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.6%(156)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$12,855
−23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $22,120 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$6,722
−44%vs 2000
vs $12,021 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
39.2%
+11.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 27.5% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$31,600
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $47,300 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$246
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $278 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
76.0%
−3.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 79.2% in 2000
24.0% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic99.9%(9,970)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(38)
Asian0%(0)
Other0.1%(13)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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
6.2%
−1.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 7.3% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
49.4%
−14.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 63.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
2.3%
−0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 2.9% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
30.5 min
−12%vs 2000
vs 34.7 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
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

Places similar to Clay County

Taylor County
Pop 7,818
Wheeler County
Pop 7,570
Atkinson County
Pop 8,454
Searcy County
Pop 7,848
Places similar to Clay County
Head to head

Compare Clay County to nearby counties

CLAY COUNTY VS
Nicholas County
Income$54,639+325%
Home value$121,600+285%
Population23,848+216%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Roane County
Income$45,778+256%
Home value$122,100+286%
Population13,317+77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Braxton County
Income$50,331+292%
Home value$117,900+273%
Population11,885+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Kanawha County
Income$60,943+374%
Home value$147,300+366%
Population172,381+2187%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, West Virginia?

Clay County, West Virginia has about 9,983 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Clay County, West Virginia earns about $12,855 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 $31,600, and the typical rent is about $246 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, West Virginia?

About 6.2% 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 39.2% of people in Clay County, West Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

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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
Up the hierarchy
All counties in West Virginia
Rankings
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →