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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Clay County

West Virginia · 9,386 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 $30,789. Population has declined 9% since 2000. 8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has risen by half since 2000, reaching $76,400. The poverty rate of 23.7% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 41.5
US median: 37.2
Less educated
8% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 28%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
9,386
−9%since 2000
from 10,330 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
27 / sq mi
−9%since 2000
from 30 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
41.5
+13%since 2000
from 36.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K8K9K10K11K1990201020202024Clay County
20248K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$30,789
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,120 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,205
+35%since 2000
from $12,021 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
16.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
23.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2000
from 27.5% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.460
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing13.5%
US avg: 0.5%
Information10.3%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade9.1%
US avg: 7.2%
Retail trade7.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration5.3%
US avg: 4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.7%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 3.1%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$76,400
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,300 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$385
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $278 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
30.5%
−48.8 ptssince 2000
from 79.2% in 2000
21.1% rent
Vacancy rate
23.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
12.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.9% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
34.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.6% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.5
+16%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
Diversity Score1.2%(129)
2010
White, non-Hispanic98.5%(9,243)
Black0.1%(6)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(33)
Asian0.1%(7)
Other1.3%(119)
Diversity Score4.3%(405)
Diversity Score
4
+245%since 2000
from 1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
8.3%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 7.3% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
73.0%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 63.7% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.2%
+1.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.9% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
35.4 min
+2%since 2000
from 34.7 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
79.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 76.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
15.3%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.5% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.1%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
10.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 8.1% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
19.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 19.6% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
24.7%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.3% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.1%
−39.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+77%
Home value$121,600+59%
Population23,848+216%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Roane County
Income$45,778+49%
Home value$122,100+60%
Population13,317+77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Braxton County
Income$50,331+63%
Home value$117,900+54%
Population11,885+58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
CLAY COUNTY VS
Kanawha County
Income$60,943+98%
Home value$147,300+93%
Population172,381+2187%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Clay County, West Virginia?

Clay County, West Virginia has about 9,386 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Clay County, West Virginia earns about $30,789 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 $76,400, and the typical rent is about $385 a month.

How educated are people in Clay County, West Virginia?

About 8.3% 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 23.7% 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 597 residents, a change of about -6 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 →