Skip to main content

Clay County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Clay County, Alabama has a population of 14,192, the 56th most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $55,250 and the median home value is $156,700. The poverty rate is 17.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Clay County Quick Facts

Population 14,192
Median Household Income $55,250
Median Home Value $156,700
Poverty Rate 17.5%
Unemployment Rate 2.4%
Median Age 44.7 years
Homeownership Rate 79.4%
Affordability Ratio 2.8x
Bachelor's Degree+ 14.7%
High School Graduation 83.2%
Cities/Places 5
Population 14,192 56th of 67
Median Income $55,250 14% lower than state
Poverty Rate 17.5%
Unemployment 2.4%

How Clay County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population14,18814,192+0.0%
Median household income$51,852$55,250+6.6%
Median home value$144,700$156,700+8.3%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.0%
$25K-$50K 22.4%
$50K-$100K 31.3%
$100K+ 23.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
7.5%
$10K-$15K
4.8%
$15K-$20K
5.1%
$20K-$25K
5.5%
$25K-$30K
4.5%
$30K-$35K
6.5%
$35K-$40K
5.3%
$40K-$45K
4.3%
$45K-$50K
1.8%
$50K-$60K
8.5%
$60K-$75K
11.2%
$75K-$100K
11.6%
$100K-$125K
6.6%
$125K-$150K
7.5%
$150K-$200K
6.0%
$200K+
3.2%

Employment

2.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
47.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 79.4%
Renter 20.6%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $619/mo 13.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

36out of 100
Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Clay County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Lineville2,546$38,30232.4%$175,500
Ashland1,797$42,30825.0%$159,300
Hollins465$55,39818.5%$92,400
Millerville447$96,0710.0%N/A
Delta225$75,96942.7%$109,700

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Alabama with a total population of 14,192. It is the 56th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 44.7 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $55,250. This is 14% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 12% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $156,700. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 79.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clay County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.9% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 12.8%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

14.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 48% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Clay County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clay County, Alabama?

Clay County has a population of 14,192, making it the 56th most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Clay County?

The median household income in Clay County is $55,250 with a poverty rate of 17.5%.

How many cities are in Clay County, Alabama?

Clay County contains 5 Census-designated places.