Population 7,670 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Clay County
Household size in Clay County
| Period | Clay County | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.14 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.22 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Clay County is a place of small households, averaging 2.22 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has crept up from 2.14 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Only one other Tennessee county has smaller households.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.7 | 38.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.7 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.7 | 39.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 39.9 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Clay County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has dropped from 47.7 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.4% | 12.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.0 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit more common in Clay County than nationally: 12.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 4.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.1% | 30.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.8% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.6% | 33.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +2.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Clay County own their homes; 25.6% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. About seven in ten owners (70.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 3.6 points, as it has nationally.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 11.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.6% | 11.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 29.6% | 11.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.8% | 10.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 13.8% of the housing in Clay County, 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. Vacancy is down 6.6 points from 2006–10, 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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1982 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Clay County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. That is in line with the rest of Tennessee. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $336 | $761 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $433 | $837 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $601 | $961 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $585 | $1,286 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$249 | +$526 | +$606 |
Rent in Clay County runs $585 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $249 a month from 2006–10, a 74% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.2% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the south.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 23.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.5% | 25.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 14.9% | 27.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.9% | 31.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.7 pts | +7.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Clay County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 11.9%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 0.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Few Tennessee counties have a lower share of college graduates: only five of 95.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 71.7% | 83.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 73.9% | 85.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.1% | 87.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.5% | 89.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +14.8 pts | +6.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in seven adults in Clay County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. The share with a diploma is up 14.8 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 9.6% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.2 pts | −3.8 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Clay County: 9.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only one other Tennessee county has higher unemployment. Unemployment is up 1.2 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 | 2.22 | 45.5 | 12.8% | 25.6% | 13.8% | 1985 | $585 | 11.9% | 86.5% | 9.4% |
| Pickett County | 2.31 | 52.1 | 4.5% | 16.6% | 28.5% | 1990 | $647 | 19.0% | 85.1% | 6.9% |
| Macon County | 2.83 | 39.1 | 11.5% | 26.4% | 15.2% | 1989 | $869 | 12.9% | 82.4% | 3.8% |
| Scott County | 2.53 | 41.3 | 14.3% | 28.4% | 11.3% | 1988 | $755 | 12.9% | 81.2% | 7.2% |
| Robertson County | 2.68 | 39.3 | 11.6% | 22.4% | 6.3% | 1992 | $1,364 | 22.4% | 90.3% | 3.4% |
| Montgomery County | 2.67 | 33.5 | 14.0% | 38.1% | 7.4% | 1997 | $1,454 | 31.8% | 94.4% | 5.3% |
| Bell County | 2.34 | 39.9 | 14.5% | 41.2% | 14.0% | 1980 | $624 | 18.0% | 80.3% | 9.6% |
| Claiborne County | 2.30 | 42.5 | 11.2% | 27.8% | 12.8% | 1987 | $750 | 18.0% | 84.2% | 4.4% |
| Stewart County | 2.64 | 43.2 | 5.9% | 18.9% | 21.0% | 1988 | $920 | 17.6% | 89.5% | 2.4% |
| Hancock County | 2.39 | 45.1 | 8.8% | 25.4% | 21.7% | 1984 | $619 | 11.0% | 76.9% | 7.9% |
| Hawkins County | 2.46 | 46.1 | 12.6% | 19.9% | 13.3% | 1985 | $907 | 16.2% | 87.4% | 7.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: McCone County, MT · Knox County, MO · Knox County, NE · Knox County, TX · La Paz County, AZ · Lafayette County, WI · Latimer County, OK · Lawrence County, IL · Lawrence County, KY · Liberty County, MT
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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