Clay County, Kentucky 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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F
Clay County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $40,558 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $39,792 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 7.8% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 1.7% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 1.2% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 37% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Clay County (7.8%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 2% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Kentucky grew by 82.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $40,558 in 2024. That's an average of about 7.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.561 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $53,914 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $39,792 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.2% | 19.4% | 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 0.561, higher than Kentucky's 0.547, 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 35% more than women's income in Clay County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $494,270 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, Kentucky has widened from about 6% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 0% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,130 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Clay County widened by 20.0 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 9.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.4% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 646 people are unemployed in Clay County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Clay County is 20 minutes, about the same as in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Kentucky has fallen from 20.0% to 9.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 9.1% in 2017.
Clay County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, KY is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 19,921 residents against a local median of 13,086. Where Clay County, KY breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 138% above the local median of 3.3%/yr at 7.8%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 9.3% against a local median of 4.0%, 134% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: income growth runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Clay County, KY is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 4.5%/yr on income growth, so Clay County, KY sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clay County, KY has the highest income growth 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, KY | 19,921 | $40,558 #2/6 | 7.8%/yr #1/6 | 9.3% #5/6 | 0.561 #3/6 |
| Owsley County, KY | 3,971 | $23,922 | 1.6%/yr | 12.6% | 0.564 |
| Knox County, KY | 29,865 | $32,074 | 2.5%/yr | 8.1% | 0.597 |
| Leslie County, KY | 10,079 | $36,418 | 5.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.596 |
| Jackson County, KY | 13,086 | $40,000 | 3.3%/yr | 4.0% | 0.551 |
| Laurel County, KY | 62,983 | $58,280 | 6.1%/yr | 3.5% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it worse than Kentucky, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Clay County, Kentucky?
Clay County has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $40,558, about 37% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How fast is household income rising in Clay County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, Kentucky rose 82%, from $22,266 to $40,558. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +82% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Kentucky was $39,605, up 6% from $37,236 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Kentucky was $28,882. By 2024 it had risen 40% to $40,558.
Is it hard to find a job in Clay County, Kentucky?
Unemployment in Clay County, Kentucky is 9.3%, well above the Kentucky rate of 4.8%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.561. 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, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Kentucky has widened from about 6% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 0% in 2016. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,130 since 2009.
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