Clay County, North Carolina 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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D
Clay County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,775 | $72,438 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,445 | $54,489 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.9% | 11.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.3% | 10.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 20% lower than in North Carolina. Income has been growing faster in Clay County (6.0%/yr) than in North Carolina (5.2%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the North Carolina average of 12%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, North Carolina grew by 64.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,775 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.546 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,768 | $63,136 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $57,018 | $52,579 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -8.1% | 16.7% | 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 0.546, about the same as North Carolina's 0.547, 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.
Women's income is about 8% more than men's income in Clay County, North Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $148,750 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, North Carolina has widened from about 7% to -8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2015, and in 2023 women out-earned men by 25%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,932 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | North Carolina Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.1% | 16.3% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 121 people are unemployed in Clay County, North Carolina.
The average commute time in Clay County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in North Carolina.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, North Carolina has fallen from 12.0% to 2.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 17.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 2.3% in 2018.
Clay County, NC Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, NC is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 11,613 residents against a local median of 26,304. The measure that sets Clay County, NC apart most is unemployment: 2.6%, 35% below the local median of 4.1%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 4.4% on unemployment, so Clay County, NC sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clay County, NC has the 2nd 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, NC | 11,613 | $57,775 #4/6 | 6.0%/yr #2/6 | 2.6% #2/6 | 0.546 #6/6 |
| Towns County, GA | 12,900 | $59,591 | 5.4%/yr | 4.6% | 0.543 |
| Graham County, NC | 8,067 | $49,669 | 4.6%/yr | 7.0% | 0.505 |
| Cherokee County, NC | 29,563 | $54,386 | 5.6%/yr | 4.1% | 0.497 |
| Union County, GA | 26,304 | $68,463 | 6.4%/yr | 2.6% | 0.524 |
| Macon County, NC | 37,947 | $59,398 | 5.2%/yr | 2.8% | 0.511 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, North Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with North Carolina, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, North Carolina.
How Rich Is Clay County, North Carolina?
Clay County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $57,775, about 20% lower than the North Carolina average of $72,438.
How has median household income changed in Clay County, North Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, North Carolina rose 65%, from $35,120 to $57,775. Over the same years, income here outpaced North Carolina as a whole: +65% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, North Carolina was $54,492, down 3% from $56,262 in 2022. The North Carolina median that year was $69,937.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, North Carolina was $43,793. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $57,775.
Is unemployment high in Clay County, North Carolina?
Unemployment in Clay County, North Carolina is only 2.6%, well below the North Carolina rate of 4.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, North Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.546. 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, North Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, North Carolina has widened from about 7% to -8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 28% in 2015, and in 2023 women out-earned men by 25%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,932 since 2009.
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