Population 11,610 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Clay County
Household size in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.24 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.19 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.28 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Clay County are small: just 2.28 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has crept up from 2.24 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.1 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 52.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.5 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.5 | +2.3 | +2.3 |
Clay County skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 50.0, in line with the national trend. Clay County has the oldest population of any North Carolina county.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 12.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.1% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Clay County: 5.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Few North Carolina counties have a lower share of single-parent households: only two of 100.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.7% | 31.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.7% | 34.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.0% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.8% | 33.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 18.8% of households in Clay County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly six in ten owners (56.7%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.1 points, as it has nationally. Only nine of North Carolina's 100 counties have a lower share of renters.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.8% | 12.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 30.3% | 12.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.5% | 11.4% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Clay County: 32.5% 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. Only two of North Carolina's 100 counties have a higher vacancy rate.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1983 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1989 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1989 | 1990 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +7 | +6 |
Clay County has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1989, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the west.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $622 | $789 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $675 | $868 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $779 | $981 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $773 | $1,317 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$151 | +$528 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Clay County costs $773 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $151 a month since 2006–10, up 24%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 28.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the west; the highest are in the east.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.6% | 27.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.4% | 29.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.6% | 32.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 36.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.7 pts | +8.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in Clay County (32.3%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 13.7 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.9% | 84.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.0% | 86.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.7% | 88.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 90.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.7 pts | +5.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Clay County is above the national rate: 92.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 9.7 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Clay County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five North Carolina counties.
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 | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 8.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.2% | 10.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.5 pts | −4.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Clay County has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 5.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
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 | 2.28 | 56.5 | 5.8% | 18.8% | 32.5% | 1989 | $773 | 32.3% | 92.7% | 3.3% |
| Towns County | 2.05 | 54.7 | 8.0% | 17.7% | 30.4% | 1996 | $883 | 32.6% | 92.5% | 4.9% |
| Cherokee County | 2.22 | 53.5 | 8.6% | 16.3% | 25.9% | 1993 | $880 | 24.8% | 92.4% | 3.5% |
| Macon County | 2.10 | 49.6 | 6.2% | 22.4% | 26.9% | 1987 | $822 | 27.3% | 89.9% | 2.9% |
| Fannin County | 2.21 | 51.1 | 12.2% | 21.4% | 34.5% | 1993 | $989 | 23.8% | 88.1% | 3.6% |
| Polk County | 2.45 | 44.7 | 9.3% | 16.4% | 17.8% | 1989 | $733 | 16.5% | 85.8% | 5.4% |
| Bradley County | 2.58 | 40.6 | 10.8% | 32.7% | 8.3% | 1986 | $1,068 | 25.1% | 88.6% | 6.4% |
| Catoosa County | 2.60 | 41.6 | 13.3% | 25.8% | 8.3% | 1991 | $1,004 | 25.0% | 89.6% | 4.4% |
| Hamilton County | 2.47 | 40.5 | 10.7% | 36.1% | 9.1% | 1981 | $1,317 | 36.9% | 90.8% | 4.7% |
| Spartanburg County | 2.65 | 38.8 | 12.8% | 27.0% | 9.1% | 1990 | $1,176 | 24.9% | 88.5% | 4.4% |
| Marion County | 2.47 | 43.0 | 12.7% | 21.5% | 14.6% | 1985 | $885 | 17.3% | 83.1% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Lawrence County, AR · Lake County, CO · Lake County, MI · Lake County, MN · Lake County, OR · Lake County, TN · Lake of the Woods County, MN · Lamar County, AL · Lancaster County, VA · Lander County, NV
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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