City · Missouri
Clayton, Missouri
Clayton, city, in St. Louis County, Missouri. Clayton had 17,807 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 17,355 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,380 (±44). GEOID 2914572.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,807
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,355 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,380 ±44
Median household income
$123,000
±$12,353 (90% margin)
Missouri: $70,702
Median home value
$830,000
±$64,829 (90% margin)
Missouri: $230,300
Median gross rent
$1,692
±$97 (90% margin)
Missouri: $1,033
Where is Clayton and what county is it in?
Clayton is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri. It covers 2.5 square miles of land, 6,923 residents per square mile in 2020.
Clayton is in the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 15 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Clayton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,807 people lived in Clayton on July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, faster than Missouri (+1.9%). The 2020 Census counted 17,355 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,380 (±44).
| Measure | Clayton | St. Louis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,380 ±44 | 995,569 | +792 |
| Households | 6,222 ±270 | 413,849 | +576 |
| Average household size | 2.08 ±0.09 | 2.36 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,934 ±331 | 446,192 | +726 |
Clayton's population since 2000
From 12,825 in 2000 to 17,807 in 2025: up 38.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Clayton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Clayton?
The median resident of Clayton is 30.0 years old; 17.7% are under 18 and 13.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 66.6%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 13.3%. 13.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clayton | St. Louis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.0 ±1.5 | 40.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.7% ±1.9 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 13.9% ±1.7 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Male | 50.6% ±2.5 pts | 47.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.7% ±0.9 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 66.6% ±3.6 pts | 61.4% | −6.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.7% ±1.4 pts | 24.0% | +1.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 13.3% ±2.6 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.0% ±2.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.9% ±3.0 pts | 8.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.3% ±2.9 pts | 10.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.2% ±0.9 pts | 6.0% | – |
| With a disability | 6.3% ±1.2 pts | 12.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.1% ±1.2 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.0% ±0.8 pts | 94.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 84.9% ±2.0 pts | 47.4% | +7.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 50.6% ±3.9 pts | 20.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 73.0% ±3.3 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 10.4% ±1.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Clayton earn?
Half of Clayton's 6,222 households earn less than $123,000 a year (±$12,353), against $82,936 in St. Louis County and $70,702 in Missouri. In 2015-2019 it was $132,418 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clayton | St. Louis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $123,000 ±$12,353 | $82,936 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $205,487 ±$28,242 | $123,036 | – |
| Per capita income | $74,159 ±$9,826 | $51,977 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.0% ±4.3 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.5% ±5.0 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 2.4% ±2.8 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.2% ±0.5 pts | 96.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.0% ±1.3 pts | 93.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Clayton?
Owners occupy 54.9% of Clayton's occupied homes and renters 45.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $830,000 by its owner (±$64,829). The median renter pays $1,692 a month including utilities, and 29.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clayton | St. Louis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $830,000 ±$64,829 | $276,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,692 ±$97 | $1,209 | +$155 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.7% ±7.8 pts | 39.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,725 ±$284 | $1,753 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.9% ±4.4 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.1% ±4.4 pts | 30.8% | – |
| Housing units | 6,934 ±331 | 446,192 | +726 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.7% ±2.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 12.3% ±5.1 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 31.5% ±2.7 pts | 72.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.4% ±2.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.1% ±3.1 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.9% ±1.9 pts | 6.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Clayton building?
Builders took permits for 8 new housing units in Clayton in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.8 across Missouri.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Clayton work and get to work?
57.4% of Clayton's workers drive alone and 23.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Clayton | St. Louis County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.2% ±3.2 pts | 65.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% ±1.7 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 57.4% ±4.4 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.6% ±2.1 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Walked | 10.1% ±2.2 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 23.4% ±4.4 pts | 18.3% | +13.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.6 min ±1.7 | 23.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Clayton?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Clayton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $93,942 (Tract 2163) to $149,087 (Tract 2164.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 2165St. Louis County | 5,755 | $124,226 |
| Tract 2163St. Louis County | 6,854 | $93,942 |
| Tract 2164.02St. Louis County | 2,724 | $133,168 |
| Tract 2164.01St. Louis County | 2,572 | $149,087 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Clayton) · Census block assignment files
How does Clayton compare with other places in Missouri?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Clayton is the 2,125th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 44th-most populous of 936 in Missouri.
Clayton ranks 24th of 416 places in Missouri with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 44th | 936 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 154th | 394 |
| Residents per square mile | 4th | 420 |
| Median household income | 24th | 416 |
| Per capita income | 17th | 420 |
| Median home value | 5th | 416 |
| Median gross rent | 8th | 398 |
| Poverty rate | 302nd | 373 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4th | 404 |
| Median age | 398th | 420 |
| Owner-occupied share | 339th | 418 |
| Work from home | 20th | 270 |
| Travel time to work | 377th | 420 |
Clayton's figures with every place in Missouri (CSV)
Every place in Missouri, sortable · Compare Clayton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Clayton?
7 of the 57 figures for Clayton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Clayton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Clayton.