County · Kansas
Clay County, Kansas
Clay County, Kansas. Clay County had 7,990 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. It holds 9 places (8 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 20027.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,990
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,117 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,048
Median household income
$66,176
±$5,320 (90% margin)
Kansas: $74,275
Median home value
$155,900
±$9,749 (90% margin)
Kansas: $217,200
Median gross rent
$937
±$87 (90% margin)
Kansas: $1,060
How many people live in Clay County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,117 residents in Clay County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,990 for July 1, 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, while Kansas grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,048 over 645 square miles of land.
| Measure | Clay County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,048 | 2,947,197 | −34 |
| Households | 3,522±136 | 1,174,060 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.23±0.08 | 2.44 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,944±23 | 1,293,635 | −157 |
Clay County's population since 2000
From 8,822 in 2000 to 7,990 in 2025: down 9.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Clay County?
Clay County holds 9 places: 8 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Clay Center with 4,061 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Clay Center | 4,199 | $62,695 |
|---|---|---|
| Wakefield | 858 | $68,594 |
| Clifton | 454 | $62,625 |
| MorganvilleGEOID 2048225 | 180 | $49,500 |
| GreenGEOID 2028425 | 95 | $80,179 |
| LongfordGEOID 2042575 | 73 | $48,750 |
| IdanaGEOID 2033700 | 54 | not published |
| ViningGEOID 2073950 | 43 | $24,205 |
| Oak HillGEOID 2051700 | 24 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Clay County?
The median resident of Clay County is 43.7 years old; 23.0% are under 18 and 24.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.5%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clay County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.7±0.6 | 37.4 | +1.2 |
| Under 18 years | 23.0%±0.7 pts | 23.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.2%±0.4 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.5% | 13.6% | +1.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.0%±1.2 pts | 72.7% | −4.0 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.4%±0.2 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.3 pts | 2.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0%±1.3 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9%±0.5 pts | 7.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.1%±1.2 pts | 12.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 15.7%±2.9 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 16.8%±2.7 pts | 13.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.7%±1.5 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.5%±2.5 pts | 92.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.5%±3.6 pts | 35.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.6%±2.2 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7%±0.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
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 Clay County earn?
Half of Clay County's 3,522 households earn less than $66,176 a year (±$5,320), against $74,275 in Kansas. In 2015-2019 it was $66,370 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 13.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clay County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $66,176±$5,320 | $74,275 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $84,799±$5,912 | $100,417 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,854±$2,459 | $40,978 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 13.4%±3.2 pts | 11.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.1%±7.6 pts | 13.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.2%±2.2 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.6%±2.9 pts | 90.7% | – |
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 County?
Owners occupy 78.0% of Clay County's occupied homes and renters 22.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $155,900 by its owner (±$9,749). The median renter pays $937 a month including utilities, and 36.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clay County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $155,900±$9,749 | $217,200 | +$35,292 |
| Median gross rent | $937±$87 | $1,060 | +$190 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.2%±11.0 pts | 34.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,428±$87 | $1,689 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.0%±4.6 pts | 67.2% | +6.9 pts |
| Housing units | 3,944±23 | 1,293,635 | −157 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.4%±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±4.6 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 86.3%±3.6 pts | 71.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.9%±2.3 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 30.2%±4.8 pts | 15.4% | – |
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 County building?
Builders took permits for 21 new housing units across Clay County in 2025 (21 single-family), 2.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Clay County get to work?
78.1% of Clay County's workers drive alone and 8.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.0 minutes.
| Measure | Clay County | Kansas | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.7%±3.4 pts | 66.1% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.0%±0.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 78.1%±3.9 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.4%±2.7 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.6%±1.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.2%±2.6 pts | 11.8% | +3.9 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.0 min±3.0 | 19.7 min | +4.7 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 are Clay County's census tracts?
Clay County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $63,114 (Tract 4582) to $69,095 (Tract 4581).
| Tract 458120027458100 | 3,602±191 | $69,095 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 458220027458200 | 4,446±191 | $63,114 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Clay County compare with Kansas's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 47th of 105 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 49th of 105 |
| Residents per square mile | 47th of 105 |
| Median household income | 42nd of 105 |
| Median home value | 33rd of 105 |
| Median gross rent | 19th of 104 |
| Poverty rate | 30th of 102 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43rd of 105 |
| Median age | 30th of 105 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 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.