Clay County, Indiana 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 | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,786 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,850 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.6% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.7% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 2% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing slower in Clay County (4.5%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Indiana grew by 61.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,786 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.520 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $65,502 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,162 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.5% | 21.3% | 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 0.520, lower than Indiana's 0.534, 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 42% more than women's income in Clay County, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 42% wage gap accumulates to roughly $676,900 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, Indiana has widened from about 29% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,586 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Clay County widened by 1.0 points while Indiana's narrowed by 6.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.8% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 411 people are unemployed in Clay County, Indiana.
The average commute time in Clay County is 27 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Indiana has fallen from 8.4% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.3% in 2012.
Clay County, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, IN is typical in size for this group, 26,409 residents against a local median of 31,021, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Clay County, IN breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 26% below the local median of 4.4% at 3.2%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.0% on unemployment, so Clay County, IN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clay County, IN has the 3rd 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, IN | 26,409 | $70,786 #2/6 | 4.5%/yr #3/6 | 3.2% #3/6 | 0.520 #3/6 |
| Vigo County, IN | 106,109 | $52,462 | 3.0%/yr | 5.7% | 0.563 |
| Owen County, IN | 21,604 | $64,192 | 4.4%/yr | 3.0% | 0.501 |
| Putnam County, IN | 37,280 | $77,280 | 4.9%/yr | 3.1% | 0.552 |
| Greene County, IN | 31,021 | $62,067 | 4.1%/yr | 6.0% | 0.520 |
| Parke County, IN | 16,406 | $67,694 | 6.0%/yr | 4.4% | 0.561 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Indiana, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Indiana.
How Rich Is Clay County, Indiana?
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 $70,786, about 2% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How has median household income changed in Clay County, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, Indiana rose 61%, from $43,915 to $70,786. Over the same years, income here outpaced Indiana as a whole: +61% against +52%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Indiana was $67,933, down 1% from $68,460 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Indiana was $59,529. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $70,786.
Is it hard to find a job in Clay County, Indiana?
Unemployment in Clay County, Indiana is only 3.2%, well below the Indiana rate of 4.3%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.520. 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, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Indiana has widened from about 29% to 30% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 22% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,586 since 2009.
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