City profile · Kentucky · Census ACS 2023

Clay City, KY

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Clay City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,352
Residents
$32,571
Median income
$108,600
Median home
$866
Median rent (state)

Clay City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Clay City places in the 3rd percentile for household income and the 98th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

3rd
percentile, household income
13th
percentile, home value
1st
percentile, median rent
98th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Clay City, KY

1,352 people live in Clay City, Kentucky - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $32,571 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 33.6%. Home values in Clay City run a median of $108,600, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. 4.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 46.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Clay City reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 85.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Kentucky run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Kentucky scores 90.2 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $866 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Kentucky, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 31.2 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,352 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Kentucky

Median Household Income

$32,571 /yr

Poverty 33.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Kentucky average

How does Clay City compare to other US cities?

Where Clay City sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 3% higher than other cities
Home value 13% pricier than other cities
Median rent 1% pricier than other cities
Safety 98% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Kentucky and the picture shifts: Clay City ranks #13 of 181 Kentucky cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Clay City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Kentucky only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Kentucky-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Clay City near the bottom of Kentucky's cities

Among the 520 Kentucky cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Clay City ranks #366 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Clay City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#432 of 485
11th percentile in Kentucky
Median Gross Rent
#366 of 520
0th percentile in Kentucky
Median Home Value
#354 of 484
27th percentile in Kentucky
Poverty Rate
#41 of 519
92nd percentile in Kentucky
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#470 of 520
10th percentile in Kentucky

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Kentucky only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

3rdIncome percentile
98thSafety percentile

3rd percentile nationally for median household income · 98th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Clay City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Clay City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 65 Avg. percentile National median
Clay City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Clay City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$108,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Clay City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Clay City, KY Clay City, KY's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Clay City, KY-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Clay City, KY median $32,571/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Clay City, KY's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Clay City, KY. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 4.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 33.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 46.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,352
Median Income
$32,571
Median Home Value
$108,600
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
33.6%
Labor force participation
46.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
4.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
85.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
85.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,170 residents1,180 residents1,190 residents1,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,192 residents 1,174 residents ▼ -1.5%
Clay City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.2%
Carpool
13.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.5%
Work from Home
5.5%
Other
1.3%

Based on 437 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Kentucky - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$70
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Kentucky state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Kentucky state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Clay City sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$866/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
31.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Kentucky

Pine Knot
1,358 people
Brodhead
1,339 people
Guthrie
1,377 people
Beechwood
1,305 people
Burkesville
1,407 people
Plano
1,293 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Clay City's 1,352 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Irwindale, CA
1,352 people
San Antonio, FL
1,352 people
Chrisman, IL
1,352 people
Ravenna, NE
1,352 people
Poetry, TX
1,352 people
Dutch Island, GA
1,353 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Clay City's $32,571 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

River Rouge, MI
$32,568 median income
Elizabethtown, NC
$32,577 median income
Piedra Aguza comunidad, PR
$32,596 median income
Clarkdale, AZ
$32,607 median income
Sunizona, AZ
$32,614 median income
Bullhead, SD
$32,614 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Clay City, KY Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Clay City, KY - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.7% 11.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.6% White 87.7% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Clay City compares to nearby Kentucky cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Clay City (this city) 1,352 $32,571
Pine Knot 1,358 N/A
Brodhead 1,339 $28,523
Guthrie 1,377 $34,803
Census ACS 5-year FIPS KY FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Clay City, KY?

What is the population of Clay City, KY? +

The population of Clay City, KY stands at 1,352 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Clay City, KY? +

In Clay City, the typical household earns $32,571 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Clay City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Clay City; the closest available measure is the Kentucky state average, a cost of living index of 90.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Kentucky vary by metro area.

Is Clay City, KY safe? +

Clay City has a total crime rate of 85.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Clay City, KY? +

A typical home in Clay City is worth $108,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.