1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clay County household earns $87,820, and 9% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Florida license first.
On this page
- Clay County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Clay County
- Paychecks and income spread in Clay County
- Employment and commuting in Clay County
- Clay County and the counties next door
- Clay County towns compared
- What a median Clay County budget can carry
- Clay County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Clay County
- Lender oversight for Clay County
- A Clay County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County by the numbers
With an estimated 227,584 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Clay County ranks 25th of 67 in Florida for population. It covers 605 square miles of land, or about 376 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Jacksonville, FL metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (4 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Lakeside, with about 32,105 residents, or 14% of the county.
Housing costs in Clay County
Renters in Clay County pay a median of $1,551 a month, 7% below the Florida figure of $1,669. 50% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $312,500, about 3.6 times the median household income. 76% of Clay County households own their home and 24% rent. The median year built is 1996.
| Clay County | Florida | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,551/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $312,500 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 35% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 15% | 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Clay County
The median household income in Clay County is $87,820; statewide it is $74,568, so Clay County runs 18% above Florida as a whole. In the state ranking that is 5th of 67.
| Household income | Clay County | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.6% | -6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.2% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 33.3% | +7.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.9% | -1.1 pts |
Some 16% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 43% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 9.2% of Clay County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.402 here. A household earning below the $87,820 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Clay County
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.8% in Clay County. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 3.6% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Clay County | Gap to Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +1.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.2% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 8.5% | +0.3 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.4% | +0.3 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Clay County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 35 miles). 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Clay County; St. Johns County is highest at $109,839 and Putnam County lowest at $47,934.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $87,820 | $1,551/mo | 76% |
| Bradford County, FL | 18 mi | $63,050 | $863/mo | 73% |
| Duval County, FL | 27 mi | $71,277 | $1,475/mo | 58% |
| Putnam County, FL | 28 mi | $47,934 | $906/mo | 75% |
| St. Johns County, FL | 29 mi | $109,839 | $1,922/mo | 82% |
| Union County, FL | 30 mi | $64,146 | $894/mo | 75% |
| Baker County, FL | 35 mi | $79,836 | $1,302/mo | 85% |
Clay County towns compared
10 Census places fall mainly inside Clay County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 156,115 residents, leaving about 31% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $116,611 at the median in Fleming Island, $52,500 in Penney Farms. This guide covers each of the 10 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside | CDP | 32,105 | $81,684 | $1,479 | 12 mi |
| Oakleaf Plantation | CDP | 32,070 | $108,543 | $2,058 | 13 mi |
| Fleming Island | CDP | 29,766 | $116,611 | $1,935 | 12 mi |
| Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace | CDP | 14,755 | $59,388 | $1,457 | 15 mi |
| Asbury Lake | CDP | 14,458 | $100,949 | $2,172 | 6 mi |
| Middleburg | CDP | 11,644 | $74,634 | $1,093 | 5 mi |
| Green Cove Springs | city | 10,044 | $75,142 | $1,114 | 11 mi |
| Orange Park | town | 9,055 | $77,106 | $1,429 | 16 mi |
| Keystone Heights | city | 1,576 | $80,217 | $1,258 | 17 mi |
| Penney Farms | town | 642 | $52,500 | $1,946 | 3 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Clay County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Clay County's medians:
- Start: $7,318 gross per month ($87,820 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,551, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $2,561 total minus rent leaves $1,010
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,742 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Clay County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 28% of adults over 25. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Clay County | Florida | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.3% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.5% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Clay County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.6% |
| 60+ min | 11.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Clay County
What the Clay County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of Clay County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 43% of Clay County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Clay County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Lender oversight for Clay County
Clay County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Florida guide.
A Clay County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Clay County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Florida.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
The Florida guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clay County earn?
The median is $87,820; 43% earn $100,000 or more and 16% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Clay County rent compare with Florida?
$1,551 locally versus $1,669 for the state, 7% below.
Should Clay County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Clay County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Clay County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lakeside, Oakleaf Plantation, Fleming Island, Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, Asbury Lake and 5 more.
Are Clay County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.