Population 17,013 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Clayton County
Household size in Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.26 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Clayton County are small: just 2.26 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 edged down from 2.32 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.0 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.4 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.7 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.4, Clayton County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 43.7, in line with the national trend. Only two of Iowa's 99 counties are older.
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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.8% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Clayton County: 8.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points, 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 Clayton County
Renters in Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.5% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.0% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.0% of households in Clayton County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over half of owners (52.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 0.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Clayton County: 14.3% 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. Clayton County has a higher vacancy rate than at least four in five Iowa counties.
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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1952 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1952 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1958 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +6 | +6 |
Clayton County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1952 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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $474 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $566 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $656 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $820 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$346 | +$351 | +$606 |
Rent in Clayton County runs $820 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $346 a month since 2006–10, up 73%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.1% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Clayton County
Bachelor's degrees in Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.6% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Clayton County: 14.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has edged down 0.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Clayton County has the lowest share of college graduates of any Iowa county.
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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.3% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.9% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.1% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.5% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Clayton County have finished high school (92.5%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Iowa as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 2.2 points from 2006–10, as it has 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 Clayton County
| Period | Clayton County | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.1% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.6% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Clayton County has been low: just 2.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Clayton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton County | 2.26 | 47.4 | 8.1% | 22.0% | 14.3% | 1957 | $820 | 14.3% | 92.5% | 2.6% |
| Fayette County | 2.22 | 43.0 | 8.7% | 23.5% | 10.5% | 1951 | $860 | 20.7% | 92.8% | 3.8% |
| Grant County | 2.42 | 38.6 | 7.4% | 30.2% | 10.1% | 1973 | $836 | 27.9% | 93.7% | 3.1% |
| Bremer County | 2.49 | 38.7 | 8.7% | 20.3% | 8.2% | 1967 | $920 | 37.3% | 96.3% | 3.0% |
| Iowa County | 2.35 | 44.2 | 7.5% | 22.6% | 8.7% | 1972 | $1,006 | 28.5% | 94.9% | 3.0% |
| Butler County | 2.41 | 44.2 | 7.0% | 15.9% | 10.9% | 1957 | $743 | 21.5% | 94.0% | 3.0% |
| Franklin County | 2.35 | 45.8 | 10.2% | 27.6% | 10.9% | 1950 | $730 | 19.5% | 90.2% | 3.6% |
| Wright County | 2.41 | 40.1 | 13.4% | 23.0% | 14.6% | 1960 | $845 | 24.6% | 91.6% | 1.9% |
| Humboldt County | 2.25 | 43.3 | 13.3% | 22.8% | 9.1% | 1959 | $798 | 19.5% | 93.2% | 5.7% |
| Pocahontas County | 2.31 | 43.4 | 7.2% | 22.7% | 17.4% | 1950 | $801 | 19.0% | 90.7% | 5.4% |
| Racine County | 2.46 | 42.0 | 13.2% | 29.0% | 7.6% | 1969 | $1,184 | 28.1% | 92.3% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Hamilton County, IA · Shoshone County, ID · Grundy County, TN · Guanica Municipio, PR · Guayanilla Municipio, PR · Gulf County, FL · Gunnison County, CO · Guthrie County, IA · Hale County, AL · Hamilton County, FL
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 Clayton 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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