Clay County, Mississippi Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Mississippi with a total population of 18,462. It is the 49th most populous county out of 82 in Mississippi.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 40.1 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $39,904. This is 27% lower than the state median of $54,915. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 49% lower. The poverty rate stands at 24.8%. This is 30% higher than the state poverty rate of 19.1%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 6.0%. The median home value is $115,600. Housing costs are 28% lower than the state median of $161,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 69.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clay County is Black or African American, making up 60.1% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 37.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (60.1% vs 36.9%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 3.6%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 1.0%.

Education

18.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% lower than the state rate of 24.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 82.8%.