Clay County, MN 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 | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,430 | 5,674,785 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 62.2 | 65.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.86% | 0.66% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 31.6 | 36.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 25,908 | 2,271,841 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Clay County grew by 18.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 65,559 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Clay County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,532 | $88,383 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.88% | 4.81% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 12% lower than in Minnesota.
Housing
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $413,095 | $243,729 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $999 | $1,234 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 66.6% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Clay County is about 34.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $999 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Clay County spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 143 hours, about 6.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.2 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 34.4 | 41.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 143 | 172 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,443 | $5,323 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 15.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,089 | 7,066 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,007 | 854 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Minnesota:
Cook County (10.7 min), Pennington County (10.9 min), Brown County (10.9 min).
Slowest:
Chisago County (30.7 min), Wright County (30.3 min), Sherburne County (30.2 min).
The average commute time in Clay County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Minnesota.
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 B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 35.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.41 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Minnesota:
Hennepin County (0.4), Olmsted County (0.4), Carver County (0.4).
Lowest:
Nobles County (0.2), Mahnomen County (0.2), Watonwan County (0.2).
Health
Clay County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.9 | 80.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 10.6% | 13.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.9% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Minnesota:
Carver County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Stevens County (0.8).
Lowest:
Mahnomen County (0.8), Clearwater County (0.8), Beltrami County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Clay County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Clay County, Minnesota?
The population of Clay County, Minnesota is 65,430, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Clay County, Minnesota?
The population density of Clay County, Minnesota is 62.2 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, Minnesota?
The median household income in Clay County, Minnesota is $77,532, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Clay County, Minnesota?
The median home price in Clay County, Minnesota is $413,095, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County, Minnesota?
The unemployment rate in Clay County, Minnesota is 3.9%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.