City profile · Nebraska · Census ACS 2023

Clay Center, NE

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

750
Residents
$75,833
Median income
$148,300
Median home
$961
Median rent (state)

Clay Center - the verdict

Nationally, Clay Center sits in the 57th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

57th
percentile, household income
26th
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
📝 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 Center, NE

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 750 residents in Clay Center, a small town within Nebraska. Clay Center households earn a median of $75,833 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.9%. Clay Center's housing stock carries a median value of $148,300, and the median resident age is 39.7 years. About 20.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Nebraska run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Nebraska at 90.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $961 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $207 across Nebraska, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 56.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

750 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Nebraska

Median Household Income

$75,833 /yr

Poverty 0.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.1 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Nebraska average

How does Clay Center compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 26% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Clay Center's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Nebraska, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

57thIncome percentile

57th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Clay Center's home value compares nationally

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

$148,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 74% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Center $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 Center, NE Clay Center, NE's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Clay Center, NE-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 Center, NE median $75,833/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 Center, NE'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 Center, NE. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.7%

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

Population
750
Median Income
$75,833
Median Home Value
$148,300
Median Age
39.7
Poverty Rate
0.9%
Labor force participation
66.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.6%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
715 residents720 residents725 residents730 residents735 residents 202020212022202320242025 722 residents 730 residents ▲ +1.1%
Clay Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
85.5%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
4.0%
Work from Home
5.3%

Based on 399 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$65
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$207
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Nebraska 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 Nebraska state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Clay Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.1
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$961/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
56.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Nebraska

Lyons
751 people
Axtell
744 people
Hemingford
744 people
Cedar Bluffs
760 people
McCool Junction
740 people
Curtis
761 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Clay Center's 750 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kenwood, CA
750 people
Winter Park, CO
750 people
Ashmore, IL
750 people
Laytonsville, MD
750 people
Hillman, MI
750 people
Mississippi Valley State University, MS
750 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Clay Center's $75,833 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Du Bois, IL
$75,833 median income
Homer, IL
$75,833 median income
Alden, MN
$75,833 median income
Scanlon, MN
$75,833 median income
Waltham, MN
$75,833 median income
Green Park, MO
$75,833 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Clay Center, NE 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 Center, NE - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.5% White 88.8% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 0.1% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% Two or more races 4.9% 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 Center compares to nearby Nebraska 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 Center (this city) 750 $75,833
Lyons 751 $38,333
Axtell 744 $64,196
Hemingford 744 $64,356
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NE OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Clay Center, NE?

What is the population of Clay Center, NE? +

Clay Center, NE counts 750 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Clay Center, NE? +

Median annual household income in Clay Center runs $75,833, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Clay Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Clay Center; the closest available measure is the Nebraska state average, a cost of living index of 90.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Nebraska vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Clay Center, NE? +

Clay Center's median home value sits at $148,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.