Clayton city, Missouri Demographics & Population 2026

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

As of 2026, Clayton city, Missouri has a total population of 17,282, the 50th largest city in Missouri, with a median household income of $128,898, which is 87% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 8.1%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 87% above the state average — one of the wealthiest communities in Missouri.
83.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Missouri.

Clayton city Quick Facts

Population 17,282

Median Household Income $128,898

Median Home Value $799,200

Poverty Rate 8.1%

Unemployment Rate 2.5%

Median Age 28.7 years

Homeownership Rate 54.7%

Affordability Ratio 6.2x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 83.8%

High School Graduation Rate 96.9%

Diversity Index 52/100

Population 17,282 50th of 1,062

Median Income $128,898 top 10%

Poverty Rate 8.1% 35% lower national

Median Home Value $799,200 top 10%

How Clayton city Compares

Median Household Income

Clayton city

$128,898

$68,920

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Clayton city

$799,200

$215,600

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 10.7%

$25K-$50K 10.8%

$50K-$100K 19.5%

$100K+ 59.0%

Employment

2.5% Unemployment Rate State: 4.1% | National: 5.2%

54.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 54.7%

Renter 45.3%

Affordability Index Expensive

6.2x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.4%

18-34

38.1%

35-54

20.9%

55-74

16.8%

75+

5.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 39 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Clayton city Rankings in Missouri

#50 Population of 1,062

#35 Median Income of 1,062

#8 Education of 1,062

#9 Home Value of 1,062

Explore Missouri 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

Cities Similar to Clayton city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Lake St. Louis city	17,538	$123,427	$375,300	49.5%	4.0%
Creve Coeur city	18,643	$119,454	$566,100	66.7%	6.3%
Manchester city	18,189	$92,839	$298,400	62.1%	5.7%
Concord CDP	18,028	$84,389	$279,400	42.0%	4.3%
Grain Valley city	15,967	$87,266	$269,800	27.8%	6.3%

Population Overview

Clayton city is a small city located in Missouri. The total population is 17,282. It ranks as the 50th most populous out of 1,062 cities and towns in Missouri.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clayton city is 28.7 years. This is 26% lower than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clayton city is $128,898. This is 87% higher than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 64% higher. The poverty rate stands at 8.1%. This is 35% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 2.5%. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $799,200. Housing costs are 271% higher than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 54.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 20% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Clayton city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.0% of the population. Asian residents account for 12.7%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (12.7% vs 2.1%).

Education

83.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Clayton city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 163% 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 96.9%. Notably, 52.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clayton city, Missouri is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Missouri state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,062 Census-designated places in Missouri. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clayton city, Missouri?

Clayton city, Missouri has a population of 17,282 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Clayton city, MO?

The median household income in Clayton city is $128,898, which is 64% higher the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Clayton city, MO?

The poverty rate in Clayton city is 8.1%. This means approximately 1,037 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Clayton city, Missouri?

Clayton city's population is 67.0% White, 8.8% Black, 4.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 12.7% Asian.

What is the median home value in Clayton city, MO?

The median home value in Clayton city is $799,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.2x.

How educated is Clayton city, Missouri?

83.8% of adults (25+) in Clayton city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 52.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.