Clay County, Illinois Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Illinois with a total population of 13,173. It is the 80th most populous county out of 102 in Illinois.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 41.5 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $57,266. This is 30% lower than the state median of $81,702. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 27% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.7%. This is 43% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.7%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $94,300. Housing costs are 62% lower than the state median of $250,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.0% vs 58.8%). The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 18.5%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.8%.

Education

15.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 37.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.7%.