Clay County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 6,084. It is the 47th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 40.1 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 37.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $75,938. 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 8.1%. This is 21% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.3%. The unemployment rate is 1.5%. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $146,300. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $223,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.9x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 80.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% higher than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.9% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 9.4%. The Black or African American population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 4.6%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

22.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% 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 94.2%.