County · Kentucky
Clay County, Kentucky
Clay County, Kentucky. Clay County had 19,465 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.3% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 21051.
Clay County is one of the 4 counties of the Corbin, KY micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
19,465
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 20,345 · ACS 2020-2024: 19,921
Median household income
$40,900
±$7,504 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $63,726
Median home value
$90,700
±$13,106 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $205,600
Median gross rent
$724
±$55 (90% margin)
Kentucky: $967
How many people live in Clay County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 20,345 residents in Clay County. The Census Bureau estimates 19,465 for July 1, 2025, down 4.3% since 2020, while Kentucky grew 2.2%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 19,921 over 469 square miles of land.
| Measure | Clay County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 19,921 | 4,534,824 | −447 |
| Households | 7,288±291 | 1,814,469 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.52±0.10 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,664±36 | 2,023,116 | −362 |
Clay County's population since 2000
From 24,556 in 2000 to 19,465 in 2025: down 20.7%. 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 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Manchester with 1,411 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Manchester | 1,512 | $23,529 |
|---|---|---|
| OneidaGEOID 2158062 | 238 | 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 40.2 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 16.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 3.9%. 0.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Clay County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2±1.1 | 39.1 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.6%±0.3 pts | 22.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.0%±0.3 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.1% | 5.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.3%±1.8 pts | 81.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.9%±0.4 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 1.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.5%±1.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.9%±0.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.7%±0.4 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.9%±0.9 pts | 6.5% | – |
| With a disability | 27.6%±3.1 pts | 17.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.2%±1.3 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 73.8%±3.3 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 15.5%±2.6 pts | 27.6% | +5.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.6%±1.9 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.7%±1.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
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 7,288 households earn less than $40,900 a year (±$7,504), against $63,726 in Kentucky. In 2015-2019 it was $33,032 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 32.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clay County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $40,900±$7,504 | $63,726 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $55,251±$5,272 | $87,807 | – |
| Per capita income | $21,846±$1,882 | $35,821 | +$2,904 |
| People below the poverty line | 32.4%±4.5 pts | 16.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 46.7%±9.5 pts | 20.3% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 34.7%±5.1 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 83.9%±3.0 pts | 88.6% | – |
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 76.4% of Clay County's occupied homes and renters 23.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $90,700 by its owner (±$13,106). The median renter pays $724 a month including utilities, and 52.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clay County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $90,700±$13,106 | $205,600 | +$24,119 |
| Median gross rent | $724±$55 | $967 | +$68 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 52.3%±11.2 pts | 36.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $978±$140 | $1,433 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.4%±3.8 pts | 68.3% | +8.5 pts |
| Housing units | 8,664±36 | 2,023,116 | −362 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3%±7.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.9%±3.3 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 30.7%±3.2 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.5%±1.4 pts | 9.0% | – |
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 0 new housing units across Clay County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 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?
76.0% of Clay County's workers drive alone and 9.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 29.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 9.3%.
| Measure | Clay County | Kentucky | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 42.6%±2.5 pts | 59.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 9.3%±2.9 pts | 4.9% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 76.0%±3.9 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.3%±3.3 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4%±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 1.0%±0.7 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.4%±2.9 pts | 10.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 29.1 min±4.1 | 24.0 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 are Clay County's census tracts?
Clay County is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $28,750 (Tract 9504) to $62,419 (Tract 9502.02).
| Tract 950121051950100 | 1,723±263 | $33,542 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9502.0121051950201 | 2,935±536 | $46,572 |
| Tract 9502.0221051950202 | 3,273±501 | $62,419 |
| Tract 9503.0121051950301 | 2,227±259 | $49,650 |
| Tract 9503.0221051950302 | 3,515±499 | $30,603 |
| Tract 950421051950400 | 2,865±520 | $28,750 |
| Tract 950521051950500 | 2,335±420 | $34,028 |
| Tract 950621051950600 | 1,048±279 | $31,719 |
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 Kentucky's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 59th of 120 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 107th of 120 |
| Residents per square mile | 77th of 120 |
| Median household income | 106th of 120 |
| Median home value | 107th of 120 |
| Median gross rent | 81st of 120 |
| Poverty rate | 8th of 120 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 73rd of 120 |
| Median age | 86th of 120 |
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.