Clay County, IA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,277 | 3,182,597 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 28.4 | 56.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.02% | 0.40% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.1 | 36.8 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,249 | 1,299,956 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Clay County declined by 1.6% from 2010 to 2023, reaching 16,446 in 2023.
Population Growth 2010–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Clay County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,830 | $73,286 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.30% | 4.22% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 12% lower than in Iowa.
Housing
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $104,911 | $143,535 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $797 | $948 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.7% | 71.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Clay County is about 11.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $797 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Clay County spend about 25 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 103 hours, about 4.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 12.4 | 17.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 24.8 | 33.9 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 103 | 141 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,197 | $4,383 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 10.4% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,745 | 4,993 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 276 | 606 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Iowa:
Cass County (8.9 min), Sioux County (10.0 min), Carroll County (10.7 min).
Slowest:
Monroe County (27.8 min), Madison County (27.3 min), Harrison County (27.0 min).
The average commute time in Clay County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Iowa.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Clay County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 27.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.22 | 2.37 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Iowa:
Johnson County (0.4), Dallas County (0.4), Story County (0.4).
Lowest:
Crawford County (0.2), Wayne County (0.2), Louisa County (0.2).
Health
Clay County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.0 | 79.2 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.4% | 13.6% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.9% | 17.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Iowa:
Johnson County (0.8), Story County (0.8), Winneshiek County (0.8).
Lowest:
Davis County (0.8), Wayne County (0.8), Appanoose County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Clay County, Iowa.
What is the population of Clay County, Iowa?
The population of Clay County, Iowa is 16,277, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Clay County, Iowa?
The population density of Clay County, Iowa is 28.4 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Clay County, Iowa?
The median household income in Clay County, Iowa is $64,830, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Clay County, Iowa?
The median home price in Clay County, Iowa is $104,911, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County, Iowa?
The unemployment rate in Clay County, Iowa is 4.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.