Clay County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Clay County, Tennessee has a population of 7,670, the 90th most populous county in Tennessee. The median household income is $39,972 and the median home value is $136,400. The poverty rate is 24.2%.

Clay County Quick Facts

Population 7,670

Median Household Income $39,97290% MOE ±$9,119

Median Home Value $136,40090% MOE ±$31,244

Poverty Rate 24.2%90% MOE ±5.5 pts

Unemployment Rate 10.1%90% MOE ±5.2 pts

Median Age 48.5 years90% MOE ±1.3 years

Homeownership Rate 74.4%90% MOE ±2.0 pts

Affordability Ratio 3.4x

Bachelor's Degree+ 11.5%90% MOE ±2.6 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 84.8%

Cities/Places 1

Population 7,670 90th of 95

Median Income $39,972 43% lower than state

Poverty Rate 24.2%

Unemployment 10.1%

How Clay County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	7,654	7,670	+0.2%
Median household income	$39,588	$39,972	No clear change (+1.0%)
Median home value¹	$120,856	$136,400	No clear change (+12.9%)
Median gross rent	$590	$557	No clear change (-5.5%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Clay

$39,972

$69,595

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Clay

$136,400

$286,700

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 32.6%

$25K-$50K 21.8%

$50K-$100K 28.2%

$100K+ 17.4%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

7.9%

$10K-$15K

10.2%

$15K-$20K

9.2%

$20K-$25K

5.3%

$25K-$30K

5.1%

$30K-$35K

5.4%

$35K-$40K

7.0%

$40K-$45K

2.1%

$45K-$50K

2.1%

$50K-$60K

10.0%

$60K-$75K

5.5%

$75K-$100K

12.7%

$100K-$125K

10.0%

$125K-$150K

4.1%

$150K-$200K

2.9%

$200K+

0.5%

Employment

10.1% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%

45.9% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 74.4%

Renter 25.6%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.4x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $557/mo 16.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.8%

18-34

13.6%

35-54

27.1%

55-74

29.8%

75+

10.7%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 46 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Clay County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Celina	1,941	$32,220	28.0%	$203,200

Explore Tennessee 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

Population Overview

Clay County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 7,670. It is the 90th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 48.5 years. This is 25% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $39,972. This is 43% lower than the state median of $69,595. It is also 50% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.2%. This is 76% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. 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 10.1%. This is 115% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $136,400. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $286,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.4x. 74.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.8% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 3.3%. The Black or African American population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 15.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 7.4%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 1.9%.

Education

11.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 31.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Clay County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Tennessee and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clay County, Tennessee?

Clay County has a population of 7,670, making it the 90th most populous county in Tennessee.

What is the median income in Clay County?

The median household income in Clay County is $39,972 with a poverty rate of 24.2%.

How many cities are in Clay County, Tennessee?

Clay County contains 1 Census-designated place.