Population 19,921 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Clay County
Household size in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.37 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.59 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.81 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
The average household in Clay County has 2.56 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 3.37, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.3 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.2 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.2 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +1.5 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in Clay County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.3, in line with the national trend. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 11.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.5% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 18.3% | 11.9% | 11.6% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in six households in Clay County (18.3%), well above the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 7.1 points, even as the national share fell. Few Kentucky counties have a higher share of single-parent households: only two of 120.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Clay County
Renters in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 30.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.1% | 32.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.6% | 31.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Clay County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 66.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.8% | 12.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 11.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 12.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 10.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −12.2 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Clay County: 15.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 12.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +5 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Clay County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $412 | $657 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $463 | $728 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $610 | $814 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $786 | $1,024 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$374 | +$367 | +$606 |
Rent in Clay County runs $786 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $374 a month from 2006–10, a 91% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 38.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the east; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Clay County
Bachelor's degrees in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 21.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 22.5% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 24.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 27.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +6.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Clay County: 16.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.9 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the southeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.6% | 81.7% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 63.9% | 83.9% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 65.1% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 74.6% | 88.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +14.9 pts | +7.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a quarter of adults in Clay County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 74.6% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. The share with a diploma has risen 14.9 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only four of Kentucky's 120 counties have a lower share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Kentucky | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 9.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 5.8% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −13.7 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Clay County runs well above the national rate: 8.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Only eight of Kentucky's 120 counties have higher unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 13.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Clay County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 2.56 | 40.4 | 18.3% | 23.6% | 15.6% | 1991 | $786 | 16.5% | 74.6% | 8.4% |
| Laurel County | 2.65 | 40.7 | 13.0% | 28.4% | 11.1% | 1991 | $832 | 17.2% | 84.4% | 4.0% |
| Leslie County | 2.32 | 41.8 | 10.4% | 14.5% | 13.0% | 1983 | $585 | 11.9% | 80.5% | 4.6% |
| Perry County | 2.47 | 42.0 | 13.9% | 29.6% | 16.4% | 1984 | $786 | 14.7% | 80.1% | 5.1% |
| Pulaski County | 2.50 | 42.8 | 11.8% | 27.5% | 15.7% | 1985 | $840 | 18.3% | 86.0% | 5.0% |
| Letcher County | 2.48 | 43.9 | 11.4% | 25.9% | 19.6% | 1976 | $732 | 12.8% | 82.1% | 5.6% |
| Russell County | 2.41 | 41.6 | 15.3% | 29.2% | 19.0% | 1989 | $667 | 15.1% | 82.2% | 6.2% |
| Dickenson County | 2.30 | 46.0 | 9.5% | 23.9% | 19.4% | 1983 | $732 | 10.7% | 85.3% | 2.3% |
| Adair County | 2.51 | 40.7 | 8.5% | 22.8% | 16.6% | 1984 | $773 | 23.4% | 84.2% | 6.1% |
| Buchanan County | 2.58 | 48.6 | 12.6% | 16.9% | 26.0% | 1979 | $748 | 11.1% | 78.9% | 3.7% |
| Green County | 2.56 | 43.8 | 13.1% | 22.4% | 16.9% | 1978 | $679 | 17.1% | 87.2% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Newton County, IN · Morgan County, OH · Morgan County, TN · Morris County, TX · Morrow County, OR · Moultrie County, IL · Naguabo Municipio, PR · Nantucket County, MA · Neshoba County, MS · New Kent County, VA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Clay County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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