Clay County, MS 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 | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,767 | 2,949,037 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 45.1 | 60.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -1.23% | -0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 40.1 | 36.3 | 37.1 |
| Households | 7,728 | 1,131,698 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Clay County declined by 11.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 18,462 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Clay County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Clay County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,912 | $55,084 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 2.98% | 4.47% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.7% | 5.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 28% lower than in Mississippi.
Housing
| Metric | Clay County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $83,125 | $119,791 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $718 | $923 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 70.7% | 69.5% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Clay County is about 9.6 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $718 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Clay County spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 170 hours, about 7.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Clay County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.4 | 21.4 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 40.7 | 42.8 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 170 | 178 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,258 | $5,533 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 5.3% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,152 | 6,176 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 606 | 914 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Mississippi:
Sharkey County (13.0 min), Coahoma County (13.3 min), Leflore County (13.4 min).
Slowest:
Wilkinson County (35.9 min), Greene County (33.2 min), Stone County (32.7 min).
The average commute time in Clay County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Mississippi.
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 D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Clay County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.7% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.35 | 2.52 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Mississippi:
Madison County (0.4), Lafayette County (0.3), Oktibbeha County (0.3).
Lowest:
Issaquena County (0.1), Tallahatchie County (0.2), Greene County (0.2).
Health
Clay County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Clay County | Mississippi Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 74.5 | 74.7 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 24.9% | 23.5% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 21.4% | 22.1% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Mississippi:
Madison County (0.8), Lafayette County (0.8), Oktibbeha County (0.8).
Lowest:
Holmes County (0.7), Quitman County (0.7), Sharkey County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Clay County, Mississippi.
What is the population of Clay County, Mississippi?
The population of Clay County, Mississippi is 18,767, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Clay County, Mississippi?
The population density of Clay County, Mississippi is 45.1 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, Mississippi?
The median household income in Clay County, Mississippi is $39,912, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Clay County, Mississippi?
The median home price in Clay County, Mississippi is $83,125, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County, Mississippi?
The unemployment rate in Clay County, Mississippi is 6.7%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.