Clay County, Iowa 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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C
Clay County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,277 | $75,133 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,123 | $57,332 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.1% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.0% | 8.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 13% lower than in Iowa. Income has been growing slower in Clay County (3.9%/yr) than in Iowa (4.0%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Iowa average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2010–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Iowa grew by 50.7% from 2010 to 2024, reaching $65,277 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.457 | 0.510 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,778 | $66,524 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,414 | $52,524 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.1% | 21.0% | 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 0.457, lower than Iowa's 0.510, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Clay County, Iowa. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $572,740 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, Iowa has narrowed from about 37% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,171 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Iowa Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.1% | 11.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 300 people are unemployed in Clay County, Iowa.
The average commute time in Clay County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Iowa.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Iowa has fallen from 5.3% to 3.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.5% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2016.
Clay County, IA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, IA is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 16,461 residents against a local median of 14,126. Clay County, IA's unemployment, at 3.5%, runs 59% above the 2.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.5% on unemployment, so Clay County, IA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clay County, IA has the 5th 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, IA | 16,461 | $65,277 #5/6 | 3.9%/yr #4/6 | 3.5% #5/6 | 0.457 #1/6 |
| Dickinson County, IA | 17,990 | $75,709 | 3.4%/yr | 3.0% | 0.470 |
| Buena Vista County, IA | 20,753 | $72,416 | 4.9%/yr | 5.5% | 0.495 |
| Palo Alto County, IA | 8,863 | $71,742 | 4.9%/yr | 2.2% | 0.486 |
| O'Brien County, IA | 14,126 | $69,653 | 3.4%/yr | 1.0% | 0.492 |
| Emmet County, IA | 9,262 | $62,786 | 4.2%/yr | 1.7% | 0.475 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Iowa has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Iowa, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Iowa.
How Rich Is Clay County, Iowa?
Clay County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $65,277, about 13% lower than the Iowa average of $75,133.
How has median household income changed in Clay County, Iowa?
Between 2010 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, Iowa rose 51%, from $43,322 to $65,277. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Iowa as a whole: +51% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Iowa was $64,830, up 5% from $61,717 in 2022. The Iowa median that year was $73,347.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Iowa was $51,310. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $65,277.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Iowa?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.457. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Clay County, Iowa?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Iowa has narrowed from about 37% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,171 since 2009.
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