1st Advantage MortgageIn Clay County, Georgia, the typical household earns $49,147 a year and the typical rent is $536. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Georgia before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Clay County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Clay County
- Income in Clay County compared with Georgia
- Jobs and commutes in Clay County
- Clay County and the counties next door
- Clay County towns compared
- Clay County households compared
- Before borrowing in Clay County
- Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
- A Clay County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Clay County
Clay County is home to about 2,850 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 155th most populous of 159 county-level areas in Georgia. It covers 195 square miles of land, or about 15 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Clay County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Fort Gaines is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 1,248 people (44% of the county total). Because Clay County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Rent, home values and ownership in Clay County
Renters in Clay County pay a median of $536 a month, 62% below the Georgia figure of $1,393. 27% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 4% spend half or more. With a median value of $94,400, a typical Clay County house costs 1.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 78% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Cost | Clay County | Georgia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $536/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,400 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 27% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 39.6% | 7.8% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Income in Clay County compared with Georgia
Half of Clay County households take in less than $49,147 a year and half take in more, 36% below the Georgia median of $77,353. In the state ranking that is 130th of 159.
| Income band | Share in Clay County | Difference from Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.3% | +9.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.6% | +13.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.1% | -14.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -7.9 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 16% clear $100,000. 21.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). None of these numbers decides a Clay County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Clay County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 18%. Compared with Georgia, the county leans toward transportation, warehousing and utilities (16% against 7%). The survey's unemployment rate for Clay County averages 4.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 2% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Clay County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.5% | +3.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 17.8% | +7.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 15.7% | +8.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.7% | +3.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.2% | +7.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.1% | +2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Clay County and the counties next door
Henry County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Barbour County, is 30 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Clay County; Henry County is highest at $59,931 and Randolph County lowest at $28,380. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clay County resident follows Georgia rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $49,147 | $536/mo | 78% |
| Henry County, AL | 16 mi | $59,931 | $769/mo | 79% |
| Quitman County, GA | 17 mi | $40,179 | $918/mo | 84% |
| Randolph County, GA | 17 mi | $28,380 | $606/mo | 52% |
| Early County, GA | 21 mi | $54,083 | $791/mo | 67% |
| Calhoun County, GA | 23 mi | $46,940 | $546/mo | 59% |
| Barbour County, AL | 30 mi | $46,042 | $688/mo | 68% |
Clay County towns compared
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Clay County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 1,598 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 2 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Gaines | city | 1,248 | $38,071 | $525 | 4 mi |
| Bluffton | town | 350 | $86,131 | n/a | 10 mi |
Clay County households compared
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.8%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Clay County | Georgia | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.8% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.4% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.0% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Clay County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.8% |
Before borrowing in Clay County
A few patterns in the Clay County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 40% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Clay County's median age is 45.3. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
Here is the Clay County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,096 a month: gross income for a household at the Clay County median
- Median rent: $536, or 13 cents of every gross dollar
- $897: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,307 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Clay County's.
A Clay County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Clay County:
- Price the Clay County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Georgia borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Clay County borrowers answers to the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
The Georgia guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Clay County?
$49,147 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $77,353 for Georgia. It ranks 130th of 159 in the state.
How does Clay County rent compare with Georgia?
$536 locally versus $1,393 for the state, 62% below.
Should Clay County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% 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.
What are the biggest places in Clay County?
By population: Fort Gaines, Bluffton. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Will a Clay County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Georgia as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.