Clay County, Texas Demographics 2026

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

Clay County, Texas has a population of 10,495, the 161st most populous county in Texas. The median household income is $80,114 and the median home value is $171,500. The poverty rate is 8.4%.

Clay County Quick Facts

Population 10,495

Median Household Income $80,11490% MOE ±$7,097

Median Home Value $171,50090% MOE ±$12,193

Poverty Rate 8.4%90% MOE ±2.2 pts

Unemployment Rate 1.9%90% MOE ±1.0 pts

Median Age 47.5 years90% MOE ±0.8 years

Homeownership Rate 84.0%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.1x

Bachelor's Degree+ 22.4%90% MOE ±2.7 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 94.5%

Cities/Places 7

Population 10,495 161st of 254

Median Income $80,114 2% higher than state

Poverty Rate 8.4%

Unemployment 1.9%

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	10,403	10,495	+0.9%
Median household income	$68,906	$80,114	+16.3%
Median home value¹	$124,301	$171,500	+38.0%
Median gross rent	$907	$811	No clear change (-10.6%)

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

$80,114

$78,476

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Clay

$171,500

$283,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.8%

$25K-$50K 17.0%

$50K-$100K 30.1%

$100K+ 41.0%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.2%

$10K-$15K

3.6%

$15K-$20K

2.1%

$20K-$25K

1.8%

$25K-$30K

4.5%

$30K-$35K

4.1%

$35K-$40K

2.1%

$40K-$45K

4.5%

$45K-$50K

1.8%

$50K-$60K

8.4%

$60K-$75K

9.9%

$75K-$100K

11.8%

$100K-$125K

13.9%

$125K-$150K

10.6%

$150K-$200K

8.1%

$200K+

8.4%

Employment

1.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.3%|National: 5.2%

60.3% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 84.0%

Renter 16.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.1x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $811/mo 12.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.4%

18-34

16.7%

35-54

23.4%

55-74

31.1%

75+

9.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

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

State average: 67 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Clay County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Henrietta	3,167	$66,630	8.2%	$145,600
Windthorst	537	$65,179	11.0%	$206,300
Dean	536	$70,208	6.5%	$200,900
Petrolia	416	$63,750	13.5%	$95,600
Byers	393	$63,333	12.5%	$112,100
Bellevue	359	$51,750	27.3%	$83,300
Jolly	185	$102,000	10.8%	$211,700

Explore Texas 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 Texas with a total population of 10,495. It is the 161st most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clay County is 47.5 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 35.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clay County is $80,114. This is 2% higher than the state median of $78,476. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 8.4%. This is 39% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 1.9%. This is 63% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $171,500. Housing costs are 40% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Clay County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 84.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 34% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clay County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (87.0% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (7.1%) is well below the state average of 39.7%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 5.5%.

Education

22.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 34% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%.

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 Texas 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, Texas?

Clay County has a population of 10,495, making it the 161st most populous county in Texas.

What is the median income in Clay County?

The median household income in Clay County is $80,114 with a poverty rate of 8.4%.

How many cities are in Clay County, Texas?

Clay County contains 7 Census-designated places.