Clay County, Minnesota 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.
-
B
Clay County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $81,412 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,757 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.0% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.7% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 9% lower than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Clay County (4.0%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Minnesota average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Minnesota grew by 69.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $81,412 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.512 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $70,876 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,044 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.7% | 16.0% | 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 0.512, about the same as Minnesota's 0.507, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 31% more than women's income in Clay County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 31% wage gap accumulates to roughly $589,120 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, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 21% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,943 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.8% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 1,485 people are unemployed in Clay County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Clay County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Minnesota has fallen from 5.9% to 4.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 2.6% in 2018.
Clay County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, MN is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 66,074 residents against a local median of 6,371. Nothing separates Clay County, MN sharply from the counties around it. Each measure below lands within 15% of the local median, close enough that the differences are within what survey sampling alone would produce.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 14% below the local median at 4.1% against 4.8%. Clay County, MN 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, MN | 66,074 | $81,412 #1/6 | 4.0%/yr #3/6 | 4.1% #3/6 | 0.512 #5/6 |
| Norman County, MN | 6,367 | $72,723 | 4.4%/yr | 5.3% | 0.493 |
| Wilkin County, MN | 6,371 | $70,645 | 3.9%/yr | 4.8% | 0.503 |
| Cass County, ND | 193,305 | $75,698 | 4.0%/yr | 3.0% | 0.490 |
| Richland County, ND | 16,584 | $75,699 | 3.3%/yr | 1.7% | 0.496 |
| Mahnomen County, MN | 5,358 | $59,265 | 4.5%/yr | 9.8% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Minnesota has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Minnesota, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Clay County, Minnesota?
Clay County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $81,412, about 9% lower than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How has median household income changed in Clay County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, Minnesota rose 69%, from $48,046 to $81,412. Over the same years, income here outpaced Minnesota as a whole: +69% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Minnesota was $77,528, up 3% from $75,007 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Minnesota was $65,829. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $81,412.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.512. 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, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 27% to 24% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 21% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,943 since 2009.
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