Clay County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Alabama with a total population of 14,188. It is the 56th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 43.8 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $51,852. This is 16% lower than the state median of $62,027. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 34% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.6%. This is 6% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.5%. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $144,700. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $195,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 69.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clay County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 13.0%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

15.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 45% lower than the state rate of 27.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.8%.