1st Advantage MortgageClay County households have a median income of $88,468 and median rent of $1,243 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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, MO: the basics
- The Clay County job picture
- Income in Clay County compared with Missouri
- Clay County housing compared with Missouri
- The counties around Clay County
- Clay County towns compared
- Who lives in Clay County, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Clay County borrowers
- Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Clay County
- Missouri rules that apply in Clay County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County, MO: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clay County's population at 258,122; only 5 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. It covers 398 square miles of land, or about 649 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Kansas City, MO-KS metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Liberty is the biggest of its 23 Census places, at roughly 30,689 people (12% of the county total).
The Clay County job picture
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Clay County residents work in education and health care and 12% in professional and administrative services. The survey's unemployment rate for Clay County averages 3.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.0%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.7% of the total (6.6% statewide).
| Sector | Clay County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -3.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.2% | +1.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 8.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Clay County compared with Missouri
Half of Clay County households take in less than $88,468 a year and half take in more, 25% above the Missouri median of $70,702. That places it 4th among Missouri's 115 county-level areas.
| Band | Clay County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.6% | -7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.2% | +1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 43% of Clay County households make $100,000 or more, and 17% make less than $35,000. 8.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). A household earning below the $88,468 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Clay County housing compared with Missouri
Renters in Clay County pay a median of $1,243 a month, 20% above the Missouri figure of $1,033. 45% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $275,600, about 3.1 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 69%. Median construction year: 1987.
| Cost | Clay County | Missouri figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,243/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $275,600 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 45% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 22% | n/a |
The counties around Clay County
Platte County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Buchanan County, is 32 miles off. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Clay County; Platte County is highest at $96,227 and Buchanan County lowest at $62,158. Some neighbors are in Kansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clay County resident follows Missouri rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $88,468 | $1,243/mo | 69% |
| Platte County, MO | 19 mi | $96,227 | $1,334/mo | 67% |
| Clinton County, MO | 20 mi | $70,627 | $1,008/mo | 76% |
| Jackson County, MO | 22 mi | $68,577 | $1,197/mo | 59% |
| Ray County, MO | 23 mi | $74,573 | $782/mo | 77% |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 23 mi | $63,631 | $1,122/mo | 62% |
| Buchanan County, MO | 32 mi | $62,158 | $902/mo | 66% |
Clay County towns compared
23 Census places fall mainly inside Clay County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 105,526 residents, leaving about 59% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Kearney has the highest median household income on the list ($103,622) and Claycomo the lowest ($49,343), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Clay County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 23.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | city | 30,689 | $88,542 | $1,160 | 5 mi |
| Gladstone | city | 27,207 | $79,271 | $1,088 | 10 mi |
| Kearney | city | 10,885 | $103,622 | $1,251 | 4 mi |
| Smithville | city | 10,705 | $101,165 | $1,323 | 10 mi |
| Excelsior Springs | city | 10,484 | $72,609 | $975 | 10 mi |
| North Kansas City | city | 4,983 | $49,682 | $1,188 | 14 mi |
| Lawson | city | 2,905 | $65,941 | $1,005 | 13 mi |
| Pleasant Valley | city | 2,736 | $75,682 | $1,132 | 8 mi |
| Claycomo | village | 1,820 | $49,343 | $1,074 | 9 mi |
| Glenaire | city | 587 | $92,813 | $1,278 | 7 mi |
| Holt | city | 440 | $73,125 | $886 | 11 mi |
| Oakview | village | 377 | $69,141 | $1,337 | 11 mi |
| Avondale | city | 308 | $53,125 | $1,337 | 13 mi |
| Excelsior Estates | village | 239 | $79,844 | $1,305 | 13 mi |
Who lives in Clay County, in numbers
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.6%, against 8.8% for Missouri.
| Measure | Clay County | Missouri statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 36.5% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.8% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 46.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.5% |
What the numbers mean for Clay County borrowers
Based on the Clay County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Higher earners. 43% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- 45% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Clay County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Clay County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $7,372 a month: gross income for a household at the Clay County median
- Less median rent of $1,243, which is 17% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,654 total minus rent leaves $1,411
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,927 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in Clay County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Clay County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Clay County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Missouri borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Missouri rules that apply in Clay County
Consumer lenders serving Clay County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Missouri that is the Missouri Division of Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Missouri: Missouri personal loans.
Related local guides
The Missouri guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clay County a high-income county?
Its $88,468 median ranks 4th of 115 Missouri 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 $1,243 a month; 45% 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 23 Census places: Liberty, Gladstone, Kearney, Smithville, Excelsior Springs.
Will a Clay County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Missouri as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Where can someone in Clay County check a lender's license?
With the Missouri Division of Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.