1st Advantage MortgageIn Clay County, Indiana, the typical household earns $70,010 a year and the typical rent is $873. 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
- Income in Clay County compared with Indiana
- What it costs to live in Clay County
- How Clay County residents earn a living
- Clay County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Clay County
- What a median Clay County budget can carry
- Clay County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Clay County
- Indiana rules that apply in Clay County
- A Clay County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County at a glance
Roughly 26,409 residents live in Clay County, Indiana, 60th by population among the state's 92 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 358 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 74 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Terre Haute, IN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Brazil is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 7,831 people (30% of the county total).
Income in Clay County compared with Indiana
The median household income in Clay County is $70,010; statewide it is $71,957, so Clay County runs 3% below Indiana as a whole.
| Households earning | Clay County | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.1% | +0.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.7% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.6% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Clay County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. Census counts 11.7% of Clay County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.496 here. For a borrower in Clay County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in Clay County
A typical Clay County rental runs $873 a month including utilities, which is 18% below Indiana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 32% of renter households here. With a median value of $153,000, a typical Clay County house costs 2.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 81% of homes. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Clay County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $873/mo | $1,062/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $153,000 | $218,200 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 71% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 4.4% | 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.
How Clay County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 20%. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward education and health care (27% against 23%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Clay County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Clay County | Gap to Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.1% | +3.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.8% | +1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +2.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -1.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.8% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.0% | -1.8 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
Six nearby counties, 15 to 27 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $52,976 in Vigo County to $78,378 in Putnam County; 1 of these neighbors top Clay County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $70,010 | $873/mo | 81% |
| Vigo County, IN | 15 mi | $52,976 | $924/mo | 62% |
| Owen County, IN | 16 mi | $62,464 | $911/mo | 81% |
| Putnam County, IN | 23 mi | $78,378 | $884/mo | 75% |
| Greene County, IN | 25 mi | $62,094 | $797/mo | 77% |
| Sullivan County, IN | 26 mi | $56,204 | $829/mo | 76% |
| Parke County, IN | 27 mi | $68,485 | $704/mo | 82% |
The communities that make up Clay County
Here are the 8 most populous of the county's 8 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 43% of Clay County residents live in one of the 8. Incomes vary by place: $72,292 at the median in Clay City, $52,055 in Brazil. Live in one of these Clay County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | city | 7,831 | $52,055 | $869 | 9 mi |
| Clay City | town | 1,104 | $72,292 | $756 | 8 mi |
| Harmony | town | 645 | $54,615 | $1,096 | 10 mi |
| Knightsville | town | 642 | $60,208 | $817 | 9 mi |
| Center Point | town | 377 | n/a | $708 | 3 mi |
| Staunton | town | 350 | $57,500 | $894 | 7 mi |
| Coalmont | CDP | 297 | $110,074 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Carbon | town | 238 | $86,667 | $940 | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Clay County budget can carry
Clay County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,834 gross per month ($70,010 / 12)
- Less median rent of $873, which is 15% of it
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,227 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,636: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Clay County households compared
Degree holders: 20% of adults over 25. 6.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Clay County | Indiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 38.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.3% | 29.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.8% | 9.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 7.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.2% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 10.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 12.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | 4.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Clay County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.7% |
| 60+ min | 8.8% |
Borrowing situations common in Clay County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Clay County borrowers.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Clay County borrower sees (free reports).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Clay County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Indiana rules that apply in Clay County
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Indiana license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Indiana: Indiana personal loans.
A Clay County borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for Clay County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Clay County-area credit union.
- A Indiana license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Indiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clay County earn?
The median is $70,010; 32% earn $100,000 or more and 23% 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 $873 a month; 32% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Clay County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 81% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Brazil?
Yes, along with the other 7 Census places in Clay County, such as Clay City, Harmony, Knightsville.
Will a Clay County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Indiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.