Clay County, SD 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 | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,871 | 912,694 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 35.6 | 11.8 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.10% | 0.79% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 23.6 | 35.5 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,561 | 358,551 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Clay County grew by 12.7% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 15,133 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Clay County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Clay County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,460 | $72,558 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.33% | 4.77% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.3% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Clay County is about 19% lower than in South Dakota.
Housing
| Metric | Clay County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $47,812 | $98,153 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $735 | $912 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.8% | 68.6% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Clay County is about 5.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $735 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Clay County spend about 22 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 91 hours, about 3.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Clay County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 10.9 | 15.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 21.8 | 30.7 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 91 | 128 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,813 | $3,961 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.3% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,182 | 2,777 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 297 | 353 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
South Dakota:
Jones County (6.4 min), Jackson County (7.5 min), Bennett County (7.7 min).
Slowest:
McCook County (26.4 min), Ziebach County (25.1 min), Turner County (25.1 min).
The average commute time in Clay County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 15 minutes in South Dakota.
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 A, which means it is very educated.
| Metric | Clay County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 28.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.28 | 2.42 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
South Dakota:
Clay County (0.4), Lincoln County (0.3), Stanley County (0.3).
Lowest:
Buffalo County (0.1), Mellette County (0.2), Oglala Lakota County (0.2).
Health
Clay County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Clay County | South Dakota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 79.9 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 9.0% | 13.8% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 14.4% | 19.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
South Dakota:
Brookings County (0.8), Lincoln County (0.8), Clay County (0.8).
Lowest:
Todd County (0.7), Buffalo County (0.7), Mellette County (0.7).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Clay County, South Dakota.
What is the population of Clay County, South Dakota?
The population of Clay County, South Dakota is 14,871, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Clay County, South Dakota?
The population density of Clay County, South Dakota is 35.6 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, South Dakota?
The median household income in Clay County, South Dakota is $58,460, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Clay County, South Dakota?
The median home price in Clay County, South Dakota is $47,812, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County, South Dakota?
The unemployment rate in Clay County, South Dakota is 8.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.