Clay County, Nebraska 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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B
Clay County Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Clay County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,476 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,898 | $56,814 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.9% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.1% | 9.4% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 1% higher than in Nebraska. Income has been growing faster in Clay County (5.3%/yr) than in Nebraska (4.3%/yr).
About 10% of adults in Clay County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Nebraska average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Clay County, Nebraska grew by 96.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,476 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Clay County
| Metric | Clay County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.491 | 0.515 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,810 | $65,618 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,334 | $52,854 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.2% | 19.5% | 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 0.491, lower than Nebraska's 0.515, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 25% more than women's income in Clay County, Nebraska. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $436,660 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, Nebraska has narrowed from about 24% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2016, and was narrowest at 15% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,865 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Clay County | Nebraska Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.9% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.7% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 61 people are unemployed in Clay County, Nebraska.
The average commute time in Clay County is 20 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Nebraska.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Clay County, Nebraska has fallen from 4.6% to 1.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.5% in 2023.
Clay County, NE Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Clay County, NE is typical in size for this group, 6,095 residents against a local median of 5,541, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Clay County, NE's unemployment, at 1.9%, runs 90% above the 1.0% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 1.4% on unemployment, so Clay County, NE sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Clay County, NE has the 4th 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, NE | 6,095 | $77,476 #2/6 | 5.3%/yr #3/6 | 1.9% #4/6 | 0.491 #5/6 |
| Nuckolls County, NE | 4,087 | $73,200 | 7.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.485 |
| Hamilton County, NE | 9,464 | $86,646 | 4.8%/yr | 2.3% | 0.480 |
| Adams County, NE | 31,052 | $68,670 | 3.8%/yr | 2.4% | 0.505 |
| Fillmore County, NE | 5,541 | $76,804 | 5.0%/yr | 1.0% | 0.483 |
| Webster County, NE | 3,360 | $65,898 | 6.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.480 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Clay County, Nebraska has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it about on par with Nebraska, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Clay County, Nebraska.
How Rich Is Clay County, Nebraska?
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 $77,476, about 1% higher than the Nebraska average of $76,615.
How has median household income changed in Clay County, Nebraska?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Clay County, Nebraska rose 96%, from $39,433 to $77,476. Over the same years, income here outpaced Nebraska as a whole: +96% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Clay County, Nebraska was $75,817, up 2% from $73,974 in 2022. The Nebraska median that year was $74,986.
What was the median household income in Clay County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Clay County, Nebraska was $64,183. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $77,476.
How strong is the job market in Clay County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in Clay County, Nebraska is only 1.9%, well below the Nebraska rate of 3.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Clay County, Nebraska?
The Gini coefficient in Clay County is 0.491. 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, Nebraska?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Clay County, Nebraska has narrowed from about 24% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2016, and was narrowest at 15% in 2022. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,865 since 2009.
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