Clay County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Missouri with a total population of 255,566. It is the 6th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 37.6 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $86,150. This is 25% higher than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 10% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.5%. This is 33% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $256,400. Housing costs are 19% higher than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clay County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (7.7% vs 5.1%).

Education

36.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clay County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 13% higher than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.4%.