State rank#6 of 115
Smallest county258,122 residentsSt. Louis County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 29047
Clay County, Missouri
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population258,122
Household income$88,468
Unemployment3.2%
Life expectancy78 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Clay County has 258,122 residents and ranks #6 by population among Missouri county equivalents. Median household income is $88,468. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.2%. Its clearest relative strength is median household income. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Missouri
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Clay County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Clay County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median household income.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $275,600 median home value and $1,243/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $88,468, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Clay County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, uninsured, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 36.5% and life expectancy is 78 years.
Potential advantages
- Median household income: $88,468, rank #4 of 115 available Missouri counties.
- Uninsured: 7.7%, rank #4 of 115 available Missouri counties.
- Poor or fair health: 15.7%, rank #6 of 115 available Missouri counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median gross rent: $1,243/mo, rank #113 of 115; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median home value: $275,600, rank #110 of 115; investigate local variation before moving.
- Mental health access: 1 per 573 residents, rank #31 of 111; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Missouri
Rank and range use only counties in Missouri with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$88,468
$88,468; above the state county median of $59,934.
State rank #4 of 115 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$275,600
$275,600; above the state county median of $168,100.
State rank #110 of 115 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,243/mo
$1,243/mo; above the state county median of $767/mo.
State rank #113 of 115 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.2%
3.2%; below the state county median of 3.8%.
State rank #8 of 115 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
36.5%
36.5%; above the state county median of 18.3%.
State rank #7 of 115 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
78 years
78 years; above the state county median of 74.7 years.
State rank #7 of 115 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
15.7%
15.7%; below the state county median of 20.2%.
State rank #6 of 115 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.7%
7.7%; below the state county median of 12.6%.
State rank #4 of 115 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,681 residents
1 per 1,681 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,914 residents.
State rank #28 of 111 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 573 residents
1 per 573 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,028 residents.
State rank #31 of 111 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Clay County FAQ
Is Clay County a good place to live?
Clay County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median household income, uninsured, and poor or fair health. College attainment is 36.5% and life expectancy is 78 years.
What should I know before moving to Clay County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $275,600 median home value and $1,243/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $88,468, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Clay County?
Clay County has 258,122 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Clay County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 29047; the parent state FIPS is 29.
What is the median household income in Clay County?
The ACS median household income is $88,468.
How much does housing cost in Clay County?
Housing benchmarks are $275,600 median home value and $1,243/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $88,468, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.2%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
Continue exploring