Township · Pennsylvania

Clay Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Clay Township, Lancaster County, township, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Clay Township, Lancaster County had 7,081 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,857 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,948 (±18). GEOID 4207113960.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

7,081

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,857 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,948 ±18

Median household income

$84,389

±$10,264 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971

Median home value

$324,000

±$31,404 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500

Median gross rent

$1,219

±$406 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209

Where is Clay Township, Lancaster County and what county is it in?

Clay Township, Lancaster County is a township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It covers 22.0 square miles of land, 312 residents per square mile in 2020.

2 places lie inside Clay Township (Lancaster County): Clay (CDP, 1,869 in 2020) and Hopeland (CDP, 641 in 2020).

Clay Township, Lancaster County is in the Lancaster, PA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Clay Township, Lancaster County (marked with a dot) in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Clay Township, Lancaster County, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 7,081 people lived in Clay Township, Lancaster County on July 1, 2025, up 3.2% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 6,857 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,948 (±18).

  • July 2020→2021 +56 (6,918)
  • 2021→2022 +35 (6,953)
  • 2022→2023 +47 (7,000)
  • 2023→2024 +36 (7,036)
  • 2024→2025 +45 (7,081)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
MeasureClay Township, Lancaster CountyLancaster CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Total population6,948±18557,93113,018,639+109
Households2,669±206212,7485,274,853+240
Average household size2.60±0.202.552.39no clear change
Housing units2,765±220219,2245,806,452+325

Clay Township, Lancaster County's population since 2000

From 5,173 in 2000 to 7,081 in 2025: up 36.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Clay Township, Lancaster County 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.

  • 2000 Census 5,173
  • 2005 (estimate) 5,754
  • 2010 Census 6,308
  • 2015 (estimate) 6,772
  • 2020 Census 6,857
  • 2025 (estimate) 7,081

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County?

The median resident of Clay Township, Lancaster County is 41.7 years old; 24.4% are under 18 and 20.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 94.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.0%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureClay Township, Lancaster CountyLancaster CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Median age41.7±5.839.440.9no clear change
Under 18 years24.4%±3.2 pts23.1%20.4%–
65 years and over20.8%±3.2 pts19.6%19.5%–
Male52.6%±3.0 pts49.2%49.3%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3.0%±3.1 pts11.5%8.7%–
White alone, not Hispanic94.8%±4.0 pts79.1%73.0%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.5 pts3.4%10.3%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.5 pts2.4%3.8%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.5 pts0.0%0.1%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±0.5 pts0.0%0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic1.0%±0.8 pts2.9%3.6%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic1.3%±2.1 pts0.6%0.5%–
Born outside the United States3.6%±3.3 pts5.8%7.7%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)7.8%±4.8 pts16.8%12.4%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)6.1%±3.3 pts5.7%6.1%–
With a disability11.5%±3.1 pts11.8%14.4%–
No health insurance coverage13.7%±6.3 pts11.2%5.6%no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)79.8%±4.4 pts87.5%92.1%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)22.7%±5.2 pts32.4%35.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)8.4%±3.9 pts11.8%14.3%–
Lived in the same house a year earlier91.1%±8.1 pts89.7%89.3%–
Moved from another state in the past year1.1%±1.2 pts1.4%1.9%–

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County earn?

Half of Clay Township, Lancaster County's 2,669 households earn less than $84,389 a year (±$10,264), against $86,959 in Lancaster County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $86,933 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.4% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
MeasureClay Township, Lancaster CountyLancaster CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$84,389±$10,264$86,959$77,971no clear change
Mean household income$102,799±$13,166$112,346$107,538–
Per capita income$39,634±$5,412$43,128$44,355no clear change
People below the poverty line5.4%±2.8 pts8.2%11.7%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line1.9%±3.0 pts10.4%15.6%–
Households receiving SNAP9.2%±4.1 pts9.2%14.4%–
Households with a computer93.6%±3.6 pts92.3%93.8%–
Households with a broadband subscription91.9%±3.9 pts88.1%89.7%–

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County?

Owners occupy 77.2% of Clay Township, Lancaster County's occupied homes and renters 22.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $324,000 by its owner (±$31,404). The median renter pays $1,219 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
MeasureClay Township, Lancaster CountyLancaster CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$324,000±$31,404$301,100$254,500+$43,402
Median gross rent$1,219±$406$1,357$1,209no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent36.1%±27.2 pts37.8%39.5%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,960±$136$1,818$1,762–
Owner-occupied homes77.2%±7.7 pts69.8%69.3%no clear change
Renter-occupied homes22.8%±7.7 pts30.2%30.7%–
Housing units2,765±220219,2245,806,452+325
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±1.6 pts0.3%0.8%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±5.2 pts2.1%4.9%–
Single-family detached homes71.4%±6.3 pts55.4%56.6%–
Mobile homes15.5%±6.5 pts3.7%3.5%–
Built 2020 or later2.3%±2.1 pts1.4%1.0%–
Built 2010 to 20199.4%±3.7 pts8.0%5.1%–
Built 1939 or earlier7.9%±4.2 pts19.5%25.0%–
Households with no vehicle3.9%±2.3 pts8.6%10.4%–

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County building?

Builders took permits for 22 new housing units in Clay Township, Lancaster County in 2025 (22 in single-family houses), 3.1 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.

  • 2019 21 units
  • 2020 25 units
  • 2021 21 units
  • 2022 19 units
  • 2023 25 units
  • 2024 24 units
  • 2025 22 units

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County work and get to work?

79.7% of Clay Township, Lancaster County's workers drive alone and 14.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
MeasureClay Township, Lancaster CountyLancaster CountyPennsylvaniaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)60.2%±4.2 pts65.7%62.7%–
Unemployment rate0.8%±1.0 pts3.4%5.3%–
Drove alone to work79.7%±7.7 pts71.8%68.2%–
Carpooled5.3%±3.1 pts10.0%7.5%–
Public transportation0.0%±1.0 pts0.7%3.6%–
Walked0.0%±1.0 pts3.5%3.3%–
Worked from home14.9%±6.4 pts11.6%15.6%+9.0 pts
Mean travel time to work28.2 min±3.723.8 min26.3 min+5.0 min

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County?

1 census tract lies mostly in Clay Township, Lancaster County, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Clay Township, Lancaster County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Clay Township, Lancaster County
Tract 102.02Lancaster County5,668 $83,453 $317,30098%
Tract 102.01Lancaster County5,259 $104,375 $320,70029%

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 Clay Township, Lancaster County) · Census block assignment files

How does Clay Township, Lancaster County compare with other places in Pennsylvania?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Clay Township, Lancaster County is the 1,712th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 288th-most populous of 1,542 in Pennsylvania.

Clay Township, Lancaster County ranks 827th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Clay Township, Lancaster County's rank in Pennsylvania (1 = highest): by population among the state's towns and townships with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate288th1,542
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)232nd1,764
Residents per square mile1,304th2,159
Median household income827th2,136
Per capita income1,053rd2,157
Median home value430th2,146
Median gross rent650th1,963
Poverty rate1,283rd1,606
Bachelor's degree or higher1,282nd2,129
Median age1,411th2,157
Owner-occupied share1,259th2,149
Work from home626th1,710
Travel time to work669th2,156

Clay Township, Lancaster County's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)

Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Clay Township, Lancaster County 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 Clay Township, Lancaster County?

17 of the 57 figures for Clay Township, Lancaster County 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 Clay Township, Lancaster County 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' school search.