Clara, Mississippi Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 540, Clara's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Clara is a small community located in Mississippi, within Wayne County. The total population is 540. It ranks as the 257th most populous out of 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clara is 67.4 years. This is 75% higher than the state median of 38.6 years. Only 5.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 42.2% 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 Clara is $30,645. This is 46% lower than the state median of $56,447. It is also 62% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.5%. This is 92% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Clara, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $96,700. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $169,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 43% higher than the state average of 70.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Clara was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

41.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clara in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 25.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.5%. Notably, 41.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clara, Mississippi is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Mississippi state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 420 Census-designated places in Mississippi. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.