Clay County, North Carolina

Clay County, North Carolina, had an estimated population of 12,239 in 2025 across 557 km². The figures below come from the US Census Bureau's population estimates and the American Community Survey, each shown with its own vintage and its rank among North Carolina's counties and nationally.

Population
12,239
2025 estimate
Area
557 km²
Density
22
per km²
Median income
$56,971
household, ACS 2024
Median age
55
years, ACS 2024
How North Carolina's counties spread
Amenities & Infrastructure
IndicatorValue
Households with Broadband202483.3%
Median Gross Rent2024$804
Median Home Value2024$278,400
Owner-Occupied Homes202481.2%
Vacant Homes202432.2%
Demography
IndicatorValue
Aged 65 and Over202432.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native20240.4%
Asian, non-Hispanic20240.6%
Average Household Size2024people2.3
Black, non-Hispanic20242.2%
Foreign-Born20243.4%
Hispanic or Latino20244.1%
Median Age2024years55
Sex Ratio2024per 1,000 males1,007
Speak a Language Other Than English20242.4%
Under 18202416.1%
Veterans20246.6%
White, non-Hispanic202490.2%
Economy
IndicatorValue
Below Poverty Line202412.9%
Households on SNAP202411.2%
Income Inequality2024index0.477
Median Household Income2024$56,971
Per Capita Income2024$40,205
Unemployment Rate20242.6%
Education
IndicatorValue
Bachelor's Degree or Higher202431.8%
High School or Higher202492.5%
Health Coverage
IndicatorValue
No Health Insurance202415.9%
With a Disability202417.2%
Population & Density
IndicatorValue
Population202512,239
Population Density2025/km²22
Work & Commute
IndicatorValue
Commute by Public Transit20240.1%
Households with No Vehicle20246.4%
Mean Commute Time2024minutes23.2
Work from Home20248.1%
Compare Clay County against every other county on a map, add layers and run a scatter — open the atlas. Sources and vintages for every figure on this page are listed under datasets, or browse all 3,144 counties.