1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Clay County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $51,481. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Clay County
- How Clay County residents earn a living
- Income in Clay County compared with Arkansas
- Renting and owning in Clay County
- Regional comparison for Clay County
- Clay County towns compared
- Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
- Clay County households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Clay County
- Licensing and complaints for Clay County
- Checklist for Clay County applicants
- More guides for Clay County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Clay County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clay County's population at 14,280; only 50 of Arkansas's 75 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 639 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 22 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Clay County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 12 Census places inside Clay County, Piggott leads by population with about 3,555; 12 of the 12 are incorporated.
How Clay County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Clay County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Clay County averages 6.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.9%). 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 6.1% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Where residents work | Clay County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.1% | +4.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -3.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.7% | +7.4 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.4% | -0.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Income in Clay County compared with Arkansas
At $51,481, the typical Clay County household income is 22% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 39th of 75.
| Income band | Share in Clay County | Difference from Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.6% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -2.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.7% | -5.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Clay County households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. Census counts 17.2% of Clay County residents in poverty, against 16.0% across Arkansas. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.422 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Clay County median.
Renting and owning in Clay County
Renters in Clay County pay a median of $707 a month, 25% below the Arkansas figure of $947. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $94,600, about 1.8 times the median household income. 75% of Clay County households own their home and 25% rent. The median home was built in 1973, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Clay County | Arkansas | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $707/mo | $947/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,600 | $188,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 12.0% | 11.0% | n/a |
Because most Clay County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Regional comparison for Clay County
Six nearby counties, 19 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $40,089 in Pemiscot County to $57,839 in Greene County; 1 of these neighbors top Clay County's median. The list crosses into Missouri, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $51,481 | $707/mo | 75% |
| Greene County, AR | 19 mi | $57,839 | $904/mo | 66% |
| Butler County, MO | 24 mi | $49,089 | $780/mo | 65% |
| Dunklin County, MO | 25 mi | $47,849 | $648/mo | 62% |
| Ripley County, MO | 32 mi | $42,037 | $654/mo | 79% |
| Randolph County, AR | 34 mi | $50,911 | $674/mo | 74% |
| Pemiscot County, MO | 37 mi | $40,089 | $695/mo | 56% |
Clay County towns compared
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Clay County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 9,561 people, so roughly 33% of residents live outside any named place. Corning has the highest median household income on the list ($50,408) and Piggott the lowest ($44,468), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Rector ($667) and steepest in Piggott ($738). None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Piggott | city | 3,555 | $44,468 | $738 | 12 mi |
| Corning | city | 3,134 | $50,408 | $704 | 10 mi |
| Rector | city | 1,750 | $47,760 | $667 | 10 mi |
| Greenway | city | 261 | $39,375 | $579 | 11 mi |
| St. Francis | city | 177 | $37,188 | $575 | 17 mi |
| Knobel | city | 158 | $98,242 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Pollard | city | 143 | $44,167 | n/a | 9 mi |
| McDougal | town | 116 | $50,625 | n/a | 5 mi |
| Success | town | 92 | $41,250 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Peach Orchard | city | 86 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Datto | town | 67 | $36,667 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Nimmons | town | 22 | $30,938 | n/a | 19 mi |
Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
How much room does a median Clay County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $51,481 a year is $4,290 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $707, which is 16% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,138 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Clay County households compared
College graduates make up 15% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Clay County | Arkansas statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 38.5 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.3% | 25.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.4% | 11.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.8% | 9.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 8.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 16.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Clay County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Clay County borrowers.
- 12% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Licensing and complaints for Clay County
The Arkansas State Bank Department is the place to verify any lender's Arkansas license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Arkansas guide.
Checklist for Clay County applicants
Steps that save money for Clay County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Arkansas borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Clay County
For statewide rules and data, see the Arkansas guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clay County household make?
About $51,481 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 15% below the Arkansas median.
What do renters pay in Clay County?
$707 a month at the median, about 16% of median household income.
Does this page cover Piggott?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Clay County, such as Corning, Rector, Greenway.
Is the fit check different in Clay County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Clay County check a lender's license?
With the Arkansas State Bank Department. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.