Clay County, Alabama Income Statistics
Clay County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Clay County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,445 | $64,544 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $48,319 | $52,756 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.6% | 9.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.2% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 14% lower than in Alabama. Income has been growing slower in Clay County (4.6%/yr) than in Alabama (4.7%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Alabama average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Alabama grew by 52.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,445 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.6% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.569 | 0.560 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,779 | $62,840 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $45,869 | $47,036 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.2% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Clay County, it is 0.569, higher than Alabama's 0.560, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Clay County, Alabama. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $381,850 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Alabama has widened from about 15% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2016, and was narrowest at 11% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,641 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Clay County widened by 3.9 points while Alabama's narrowed by 1.8 points.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Alabama Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.6% | 8.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 130 people are unemployed in Clay County, Alabama.
The average commute time in Clay County is 22 minutes, about the same as in Alabama.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Alabama has fallen from 10.9% to 2.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 12.9% in 2013.
Clay County, AL Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, AL is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 14,192 residents against a local median of 40,938. The measure that sets Clay County, AL apart most is unemployment: 2.4%, 60% below the local median of 5.9%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.0% on unemployment, so Clay County, AL sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clay County, AL has the lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County, AL | 14,192 | $55,445 #4/6 | 4.6%/yr #4/6 | 2.4% #1/6 | 0.569 #6/6 |
| Talladega County, AL | 81,021 | $56,834 | 5.3%/yr | 6.8% | 0.551 |
| Randolph County, AL | 22,510 | $54,086 | 4.5%/yr | 3.8% | 0.562 |
| Tallapoosa County, AL | 40,938 | $59,380 | 5.2%/yr | 4.9% | 0.525 |
| Calhoun County, AL | 116,090 | $55,107 | 3.4%/yr | 5.9% | 0.547 |
| Coosa County, AL | 10,300 | $55,768 | 7.1%/yr | 6.2% | 0.531 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Alabama has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Alabama, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Alabama.
How Rich Is Clay County, Alabama?
Clay County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $55,445, about 14% lower than the Alabama average of $64,544.
How fast is household income rising in Clay County, Alabama?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, Alabama rose 52%, from $36,467 to $55,445. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Alabama as a whole: +52% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Alabama was $53,204, up 10% from $48,368 in 2022. The Alabama median that year was $62,326.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Alabama was $41,925. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $55,445.
Is unemployment high in Clay County, Alabama?
Unemployment in Clay County, Alabama is only 2.4%, well below the Alabama rate of 4.7%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Alabama?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.569. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Clay County, Alabama?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Alabama has widened from about 15% to 19% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2016, and was narrowest at 11% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,641 since 2009.
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