At a Glance
Median Income
$56,422
$30,328 per capita
Home Value
$133,600
Zillow: $154,329
Median Rent
$950/mo
32.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
583/100K
2,255/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
17.6%
92.0% high school+
Unemployment
0.8%
15.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
39.9%
18.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
54°F
302 sunny days/yr
How Clay Center Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Clay Center's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Clay Center a Good Place to Live?
B
3.0 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Clay Center residents earn a median household income of $56,422 , which is 25% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $30,328. The unemployment rate stands at 0.8% (78% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 15.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 284 business establishments, including 17 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Clay Center is $133,600 , 53% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $154,329. Median rent is $950/month, with 32.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1952.
Safety & Crime
Clay Center reports 583 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 53% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,255/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
17.6% of adults in Clay Center hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(48% below the national average).
92.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.3/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Clay Center has an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C).
Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 302 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 31.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population4,148
Median Age42.1 yrs
Density1,300/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans17.2%
Economy
B+
Median Income$56,422
Per Capita$30,328
Unemployment0.8%
Poverty15.1%
County GDP$352M
Avg Weekly Wage$772
Housing
A+
Home Value$133,600
Rent$950
Ownership60.0%
Zillow$154,329
Housing Units2,064
Rent Burden32.0%
Crime
F
Violent583/100K
Property2,255/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault558/100K
Burglary380/100K
Health
Obesity39.9%
Diabetes9.8%
Smoking18.1%
Heart Disease5.8%
Premature Death6,001/100K
Climate
Avg Temp54°F
Sunny Days302/yr
Rain31.9 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation1,208 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.6%
High School+92.0%
Graduate+9.8%
School Score6.3/10
Community
2024 VoteR 77% / D 21%
Commute19 min
Broadband82.8%
Internet Speed135 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Clay Center was founded in 1862.
The median home in Clay Center was built in 1952.
The nearest airport is Manhattan Regional (29 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.417 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
20.8% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 135 Mbps.
The county recorded 3 fatal vehicle crashes.