1st Advantage MortgageAbout 76% of Clay County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $40,900. 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
- Clay County, KY: the basics
- Household income in Clay County
- Employment and commuting in Clay County
- Housing costs in Clay County
- The communities that make up Clay County
- Regional comparison for Clay County
- More Clay County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Clay County
- A Clay County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
- Checklist for Clay County applicants
- More guides for Clay County
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County, KY: the basics
Clay County is home to about 19,921 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 59th most populous of 120 county-level areas in Kentucky. It covers 469 square miles of land, or about 42 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (1 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Manchester, with about 1,541 residents, or 8% of the county.
Household income in Clay County
The median household income in Clay County is $40,900; statewide it is $63,726, so Clay County runs 36% below Kentucky as a whole. That places it 106th among Kentucky's 120 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Clay County | +/- vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 47.0% | +19.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.6% | -4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.1% | -8.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.2% | -6.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of Clay County households make $100,000 or more, and 47% make less than $35,000. Census counts 32.4% of Clay County residents in poverty, against 16.1% across Kentucky. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $40,900 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
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Clay County residents work in education and health care and 14% in retail trade. Compared with Kentucky, the county leans toward public administration (8% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.3% in Clay County. 19% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home.
| Where residents work | Clay County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.1% | -4.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.7% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Clay County
A typical Clay County rental runs $724 a month including utilities, which is 25% below Kentucky. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 65% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $90,700, about 2.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 76%. The median year built is 1989.
| Housing | Clay County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $724/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $90,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 65% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 30.7% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 10% | 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
The communities that make up Clay County
2 Census places fall mainly inside Clay County; the 2 biggest are below. They account for 1,590 residents, leaving about 92% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Clay County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | city | 1,541 | $23,529 | $596 | 3 mi |
| Oneida | CDP | 49 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Regional comparison for Clay County
Six nearby counties, 18 to 28 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Laurel County leads the group on income ($57,771), Owsley County trails ($22,188), and Clay County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $40,900 | $724/mo | 76% |
| Owsley County, KY | 18 mi | $22,188 | $448/mo | 70% |
| Leslie County, KY | 19 mi | $35,934 | $585/mo | 86% |
| Knox County, KY | 21 mi | $32,527 | $681/mo | 65% |
| Laurel County, KY | 23 mi | $57,771 | $813/mo | 72% |
| Jackson County, KY | 24 mi | $40,000 | $665/mo | 77% |
| Perry County, KY | 28 mi | $42,181 | $798/mo | 70% |
More Clay County figures
15% of Clay County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 5.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Clay County | Kentucky | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.5% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 26.2% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 13.2% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.4% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.3% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.0% |
| 60+ min | 13.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Clay County
A few patterns in the Clay County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 19% of Clay County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 31% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 32% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 65% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
A Clay County household budget, worked through
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Clay County's medians:
- Start: $3,408 gross per month ($40,900 / 12)
- Median rent: $724, or 21 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 35% cap, $1,193 total minus rent leaves $469
- At 45%, room after rent is $810 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Kentucky
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Clay County borrowers answers to the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Kentucky state guide for the statewide picture.
Checklist for Clay County applicants
Quick steps for Clay County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Clay County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Kentucky borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Clay County
The Kentucky guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clay County a high-income county?
Its $40,900 median ranks 106th of 120 Kentucky counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Clay County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $724 a month; 65% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
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.
Does this page cover Manchester?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in Clay County, such as Oneida.
Is the fit check different in Clay County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.