Clay Center city, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Clay Center city is a small community located in Nebraska, within Clay County. The total population is 750. It ranks as the 156th most populous out of 584 cities and towns in Nebraska.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay Center city is 39.7 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay Center city is $75,833. This is 1% higher than the state median of $74,985. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 3% lower. The poverty rate stands at 2.9%. This is 72% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 1.0%. This is 68% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $148,300. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Clay Center city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 82.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay Center city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 5.5%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population (5.5%) is well below the state average of 12.3%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

20.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 34.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Clay Center city, Nebraska 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 Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 584 Census-designated places in Nebraska. For official data, visit data.census.gov.