County · West Virginia
Clay County, West Virginia
Clay County, West Virginia. Clay County had 7,538 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 6.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 54015.
Clay County is one of the 3 counties of the Charleston, WV metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
7,538
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,051 · ACS 2020-2024: 7,835
Median household income
$42,318
±$10,911 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $59,608
Median home value
$109,100
±$17,906 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $162,600
Median gross rent
$651
±$80 (90% margin)
West Virginia: $872
How many people live in Clay County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,051 residents in Clay County. The Census Bureau estimates 7,538 for July 1, 2025, down 6.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than West Virginia's (−1.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 7,835 over 342 square miles of land.
| Measure | Clay County | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 7,835 | 1,778,373 | −874 |
| Households | 2,972±192 | 728,655 | −302 |
| Average household size | 2.62±0.17 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,961±13 | 861,325 | −677 |
Clay County's population since 2000
From 10,330 in 2000 to 7,538 in 2025: down 27.0%. 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 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Clay with 363 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| ClayGEOID 5415676 | 396 | 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 45.4 years old; 21.8% are under 18 and 22.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 96.8%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 2.9%.
| Measure | Clay County | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4±0.6 | 42.7 | +1.3 |
| Under 18 years | 21.8%±0.9 pts | 20.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 22.4%±0.3 pts | 21.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 96.8%±0.5 pts | 89.7% | −2.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.8% | – |
| 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%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.9%±0.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1%±1.9 pts | 7.4% | – |
| With a disability | 20.9%±3.2 pts | 19.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.8%±2.4 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 84.9%±3.8 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 11.3%±3.1 pts | 24.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.5%±2.2 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2%±1.4 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 2,972 households earn less than $42,318 a year (±$10,911), against $59,608 in West Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $43,104 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 26.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Clay County | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,318±$10,911 | $59,608 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $58,668±$7,864 | $81,190 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,781±$2,704 | $34,203 | +$3,565 |
| People below the poverty line | 26.4%±7.2 pts | 16.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 41.9%±12.8 pts | 21.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 32.6%±6.0 pts | 17.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.0%±4.0 pts | 86.1% | – |
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 76.0% of Clay County's occupied homes and renters 24.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $109,100 by its owner (±$17,906). The median renter pays $651 a month including utilities, and 59.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Clay County | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $109,100±$17,906 | $162,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $651±$80 | $872 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 59.5%±19.2 pts | 39.0% | +29.4 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,016±$105 | $1,255 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.0%±5.9 pts | 74.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,961±13 | 861,325 | −677 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.2%±2.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 63.0%±5.5 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 32.0%±5.2 pts | 13.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.0%±1.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.7%±2.3 pts | 14.9% | – |
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 11 new housing units across Clay County in 2025 (11 single-family), 1.5 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?
75.3% of Clay County's workers drive alone and 7.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 45.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.9%.
| Measure | Clay County | West Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.6%±3.6 pts | 53.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.9%±6.1 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.3%±7.5 pts | 78.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 16.0%±7.2 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 1.1%±1.7 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.4%±3.7 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 45.4 min±5.9 | 26.6 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 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $39,167 (Tract 9581) to $51,149 (Tract 9579).
| Tract 957954015957900 | 3,006±334 | $51,149 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 958054015958000 | 2,853±368 | $40,064 |
| Tract 958154015958100 | 1,976±367 | $39,167 |
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 West Virginia's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 47th of 55 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 49th of 55 |
| Residents per square mile | 46th of 55 |
| Median household income | 51st of 55 |
| Median home value | 44th of 55 |
| Median gross rent | 45th of 55 |
| Poverty rate | 4th of 55 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51st of 55 |
| Median age | 24th of 55 |
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.