Clay County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Name: Clay County, Kansas Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Clay County, Kansas has a population of 8,048, the 47th most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $66,176 and the median home value is $155,900. The poverty rate is 13.4%.

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

Clay County Quick Facts

Population 8,048

Median Household Income $66,176

Median Home Value $155,900

Poverty Rate 13.4%

Unemployment Rate 1.0%

Median Age 43.7 years

Homeownership Rate 78.0%

Affordability Ratio 2.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 25.5%

High School Graduation 93.5%

Cities/Places 9

Population 8,048 47th of 105

Median Income $66,176 11% lower than state

Poverty Rate 13.4%

Unemployment 1.0%

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	8,071	8,048	-0.3%
Median household income	$63,136	$66,176	+4.8%
Median home value	$149,600	$155,900	+4.2%

Median Household Income

Clay

$66,176

$74,275

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Clay

$155,900

$217,200

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 18.8%

$25K-$50K 14.9%

$50K-$100K 34.5%

$100K+ 31.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.0%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

5.9%

$20K-$25K

4.3%

$25K-$30K

4.1%

$30K-$35K

2.4%

$35K-$40K

3.5%

$40K-$45K

3.1%

$45K-$50K

1.8%

$50K-$60K

10.2%

$60K-$75K

15.5%

$75K-$100K

8.9%

$100K-$125K

11.4%

$125K-$150K

9.2%

$150K-$200K

4.5%

$200K+

6.6%

Employment

1.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9%|National: 5.2%

58.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.0%

Renter 22.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $937/mo 17.0% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.0%

18-34

16.1%

35-54

23.4%

55-74

26.4%

75+

11.1%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Clay County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Clay Center	4,132	$62,695	13.1%	$143,600
Wakefield	1,031	$68,594	12.1%	$172,700
Clifton	442	$62,625	8.3%	$96,000
Morganville	176	$49,500	11.4%	$62,500
Green	95	$80,179	1.1%	$82,200
Vining	58	$24,205	3.5%	$9,999
Longford	51	$48,750	15.7%	$55,000
Idana	33	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Oak Hill	19	N/A	15.8%	N/A

Explore Kansas Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Kansas with a total population of 8,048. It is the 47th most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 43.7 years. This is 17% higher than the state median of 37.4 years. 11.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $66,176. This is 11% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.4%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 74% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $155,900. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 67.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%. The Black or African American population (2.4%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 13.6%. The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

25.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.5%.

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 Kansas 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, Kansas?

Clay County has a population of 8,048, making it the 47th most populous county in Kansas.

What is the median income in Clay County?

The median household income in Clay County is $66,176 with a poverty rate of 13.4%.

How many cities are in Clay County, Kansas?

Clay County contains 9 Census-designated places.