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Clayton, NC

Full City Profile · North Carolina · Johnston County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
28,043 Population 1,670/sq mi density
$73,348 Median Income $35,285 per capita
$292,400 Home Value $361,398 Zillow
$1,542 Median Rent 30.9% income on rent
60°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
168 Violent Crime/100K 2,085 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$73,348 median income, 1.4% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$292,400 home value, $1,542/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
168 violent crimes/100K
B+
Education
3.8 / 5.0
35.6% bachelor's degree or higher
Clayton enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 41°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 52.1 inches. The area receives 3.2 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 40.

Temperature

41°F Jan (5°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average59.9°F
11% above US avg
January Average41°F (5°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation274 ft (84 m)
Area16.8 sq mi (43.5 km²)
Population Density1,670/sq mi
Coordinates35.6581°N, 78.4460°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyJohnston County County
Nearest AirportRaleigh-Durham International (RDU)
24 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 52.1"
37% above US avg
Snowfall 3.2"
Wettest Month (Jul) 5.20"
Driest Month (Nov) 3.03"

Air Quality

AQI Median40.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0449 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score85.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability29.2 / 100
Community Resilience47.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Very Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

2 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M2.7. Most recent: M2.5 on Mar 26, 2019.

Jul 12, 1993 5 km SW of Greensboro, North Carolina M2.7 131 km
Mar 26, 2019 8 km E of Archdale, North Carolina M2.5 132 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

21 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 271 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 196 km
2019 Dorian Category 2 223 km
2018 Florence Category 2 173 km
2016 Matthew Category 1 219 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 198 km
2011 Irene Category 1 187 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 207 km
2004 Alex Category 2 247 km
2004 Charley Category 1 208 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 132 km
1999 Irene Category 2 262 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 149 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 290 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 148 km
1996 Fran Category 3 56 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 106 km
1989 Hugo Category 2 264 km
1986 Charley Category 1 204 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 263 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

372 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 56 fatalities, 1,391 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Nov 27, 1988 EF4 36 km 4
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 70 km 3
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 71 km 16
Sep 27, 2024 EF3 68 km 0
Aug 8, 2024 EF3 44 km 1
Jul 19, 2023 EF3 64 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 86 km 6
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 95 km 2
Apr 16, 2011 EF3 64 km 0
Nov 15, 2008 EF3 49 km 1
Nov 23, 1992 EF3 30 km 0
Nov 23, 1992 EF3 81 km 2
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 71 km 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF3 100 km 12
Mar 4, 1977 EF3 83 km 0
May 15, 1972 EF3 84 km 0
Feb 22, 1971 EF3 77 km 2
Apr 18, 1969 EF3 79 km 0
Nov 8, 1957 EF3 63 km 0
Apr 8, 1957 EF3 98 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

11 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (2,642 ac, 1986).

Year Name Acres Distance
1986 UNNAMED 2,642 94 km
2008 LYNCH ROAD 1,824 79 km
2006 OVERHILLS 1,436 69 km
2009 UNNAMED 1,319 86 km
2011 VALENTINE 1,083 92 km
2024 HORSESHOE LAKE 990 94 km
2022 CEDAR CREEK 872 91 km
2008 HIGHWAY 1 766 53 km
2009 UNNAMED 640 98 km
1985 UNNAMED 535 95 km
1995 UNNAMED 510 68 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 41°F (5°C) 4.1 in Coldest
February 43°F (6°C) 3.7 in
March 51°F (11°C) 4.4 in
April 59°F (15°C) 3.2 in
May 67°F (20°C) 4.0 in
June 75°F (24°C) 4.0 in
July 79°F (26°C) 5.2 in Warmest, Wettest
August 77°F (25°C) 4.7 in
September 72°F (22°C) 4.3 in
October 61°F (16°C) 3.2 in
November 52°F (11°C) 3.0 in Driest
December 44°F (7°C) 3.2 in

Clayton has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 41°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.2") and November the driest (3.0").

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