Clay County, Indiana Demographics 2026
Clay County, Indiana has a population of 26,409, the 60th most populous county in Indiana. The median household income is $70,010 and the median home value is $153,000. The poverty rate is 11.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Clay County Quick Facts
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.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,431 | 26,409 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $67,676 | $70,010 | +3.4% |
| Median home value | $128,900 | $153,000 | +18.7% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Clay County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 7,831 | $52,055 | 18.6% | $113,900 |
| Clay City | 1,104 | $72,292 | 10.8% | $94,500 |
| Harmony | 645 | $54,615 | 11.4% | $116,700 |
| Knightsville | 642 | $60,208 | 9.0% | $109,800 |
| Center Point | 377 | N/A | 11.7% | $94,800 |
| Staunton | 350 | $57,500 | 12.9% | $92,900 |
| Coalmont | 297 | $110,074 | 0.0% | $137,500 |
| Carbon | 238 | $86,667 | 8.8% | $87,500 |
Explore Indiana Rankings
Population Overview
Clay County is located in Indiana with a total population of 26,409. It is the 60th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Clay County is 41.4 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 38.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Clay County is $70,010. This is 3% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.7%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 3.2%. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $153,000. Housing costs are 30% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.0%. The Black or African American population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 8.6%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 2.6%.
Education
20.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 29.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.
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 Indiana 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, Indiana?
Clay County has a population of 26,409, making it the 60th most populous county in Indiana.
What is the median income in Clay County?
The median household income in Clay County is $70,010 with a poverty rate of 11.7%.
How many cities are in Clay County, Indiana?
Clay County contains 8 Census-designated places.