1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of Clay County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $60,417. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Clay County at a glance
- Housing costs in Clay County
- Income in Clay County compared with Illinois
- How Clay County residents earn a living
- How Clay County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Clay County
- Room for a loan payment in Clay County
- Borrowing situations common in Clay County
- Clay County households compared
- Illinois rules that apply in Clay County
- Checklist for Clay County applicants
- More guides for Clay County
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County at a glance
Roughly 13,052 residents live in Clay County, Illinois, 80th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. It covers 468 square miles of land, or about 28 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Flora, with about 4,475 residents, or 34% of the county.
Housing costs in Clay County
Renters in Clay County pay a median of $735 a month, 42% below the Illinois figure of $1,274. 23% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 12% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $97,400, about 1.6 times the median household income. 79% of Clay County households own their home and 21% rent. The median home was built in 1972, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Clay County | Illinois | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $735/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $97,400 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 23% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Clay County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Income in Clay County compared with Illinois
At $60,417, the typical Clay County household income is 8% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 83rd among Illinois's 102 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Clay County | +/- vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.3% | +11.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.2% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -8.4 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. Census counts 17.5% of Clay County residents in poverty, against 11.8% across Illinois. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
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 (22%). Compared with Illinois, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 11%). The survey's unemployment rate for Clay County averages 4.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Only 4.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Clay County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | +1.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.7% | +10.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | +0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.6% | -6.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.1% | +0.7 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.
How Clay County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Richland County at 22 miles out to Edwards County at 33. Effingham County leads the group on income ($80,404), Wayne County trails ($55,521), and Clay County out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $60,417 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Richland County, IL | 22 mi | $62,455 | $805/mo | 74% |
| Effingham County, IL | 22 mi | $80,404 | $733/mo | 78% |
| Wayne County, IL | 22 mi | $55,521 | $657/mo | 78% |
| Marion County, IL | 25 mi | $61,240 | $794/mo | 75% |
| Jasper County, IL | 25 mi | $74,755 | $793/mo | 85% |
| Edwards County, IL | 33 mi | $60,519 | $811/mo | 79% |
Places inside Clay County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Clay County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 6,900 residents, leaving about 47% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $43,750 in Louisville to $53,472 in Clay City. Rent is cheapest in Louisville ($581) and steepest in Flora ($745). Live in one of these Clay County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flora | city | 4,475 | $47,148 | $745 | 6 mi |
| Louisville | village | 1,163 | $43,750 | $581 | 2 mi |
| Clay City | village | 723 | $53,472 | $610 | 8 mi |
| Xenia | village | 389 | $45,313 | $625 | 11 mi |
| Iola | village | 90 | $46,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Sailor Springs | village | 60 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Clay County
Clay County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $60,417 a year is $5,035 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $735, which is 15% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,279 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Clay County
Where the Clay County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 17% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Clay County households compared
College graduates make up 13% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.1%, against 6.9% for Illinois.
| Indicator | Clay County | All of Illinois | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.1% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.5% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 43.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.5% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Illinois rules that apply in Clay County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Clay County resident can confirm its license with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Illinois guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Clay County applicants
Quick steps for Clay County:
- Price the Clay County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Illinois license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Clay County
The Illinois guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clay County earn?
The median is $60,417; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Clay County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $735 a month; 23% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Clay County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Flora, Louisville, Clay City, Xenia, Iola.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Clay County or elsewhere in Illinois, the same rules apply.
Is there a Clay County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Illinois it is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.