1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clay County household earns $80,114, and 8% of residents live below the poverty line. 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, TX: the basics
- Income in Clay County compared with Texas
- How Clay County ranks in Texas
- Clay County industries and commutes
- Homes and rents, Clay County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Census places in Clay County
- Before borrowing in Clay County
- Room for a loan payment in Clay County
- People and households in Clay County
- Four steps for Clay County borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Clay County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County, TX: the basics
Roughly 10,495 residents live in Clay County, Texas, 161st by population among the state's 254 counties and county equivalents. Density: about 9.6 residents per square mile across 1,089 square miles of land. Clay County counts toward the Wichita Falls, TX metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Wichita Falls, TX include it. Of the 6 Census places inside Clay County, Henrietta leads by population with about 3,167; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Income in Clay County compared with Texas
Median household income in Clay County: $80,114 (2% above Texas, $78,476). Only 35 Texas counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Clay County | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -1.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.6% | +5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -4.1 pts |
20% under $35,000 and 41% at $100,000 or more: that is the Clay County income split. The poverty rate is 8.4%, 5 points lower than the state's 13.8%. Gini index for Clay County: 0.403. A household earning below the $80,114 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
How Clay County ranks in Texas
- Homeownership: 84% in Clay County. Only 13 of 254 Texas counties are higher. An owner-heavy county means repairs are a common reason to borrow.
- Clay County ranks 25th lowest of 247 Texas counties for the ACS unemployment rate: 2.0%, against 5.3% statewide. A tight job market helps steady income, but lenders still verify it.
- On households without a vehicle, Clay County sits near the bottom of Texas at 2.4%, 28th lowest of 253. Nearly every household has a vehicle, so repair costs are a common reason to borrow.
Clay County industries and commutes
Education and health care (26%), retail trade (14%) and transportation, warehousing and utilities (11%) lead Clay County's job mix. Clay County over-indexes on agriculture, forestry and mining: 9% versus 2% in Texas. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.0% in Clay County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. No car: 2.4% of Clay County households.
| Sector | Clay County | Compared with Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.6% | +4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.9% | +2.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.6% | +3.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.2% | +7.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.9% | +0.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clay County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Homes and rents, Clay County
A typical Clay County rental runs $811 a month including utilities, which is 42% below Texas. About 4 in 10 Clay County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Clay County homes are worth $171,500 at the median, a 2.1-to-1 ratio to income. In Clay County, 84% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Clay County | Texas | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $811/mo | $1,403/mo | 42% lower |
| Median home value | $171,500 | $283,800 | 40% lower |
| Owners | 84% | 63% | +21.4 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 52% | -11.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 29% | -2.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 16.6% | 6.4% | +10.2 pts |
| Vacant units | 17% | 9% | +7.6 pts |
Clay County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Clay County's, from 29 to 38 miles away. Richest neighbor: Archer County, $72,159. Poorest: Jefferson County, $48,668. Clay County: $80,114. The list crosses into Oklahoma, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $80,114 | $811/mo | 84% |
| Montague County, TX | 29 mi | $64,545 | $1,008/mo | 80% |
| Archer County, TX | 30 mi | $72,159 | $770/mo | 84% |
| Jefferson County, OK | 31 mi | $48,668 | $647/mo | 71% |
| Wichita County, TX | 32 mi | $63,524 | $1,006/mo | 61% |
| Cotton County, OK | 36 mi | $58,425 | $772/mo | 80% |
| Jack County, TX | 38 mi | $68,079 | $960/mo | 72% |
Census places in Clay County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Clay County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 5,056 residents, leaving about 52% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. From Henrietta to the smallest crossroads, Clay County residents share this guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrietta | city | 3,167 | $66,630 | $790 | 2 mi |
| Dean | city | 536 | $70,208 | n/a | 14 mi |
| Petrolia | city | 416 | $63,750 | $942 | 16 mi |
| Byers | city | 393 | $63,333 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Bellevue | city | 359 | $51,750 | $1,063 | 15 mi |
| Jolly | city | 185 | $102,000 | n/a | 10 mi |
Before borrowing in Clay County
A few patterns in the Clay County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Clay County. For the 18% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured housing (17%). Clay County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- Fixed incomes. Clay County's median age is 47.5. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 41% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
Room for a loan payment in Clay County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Clay County's medians:
- Start: $6,676 gross per month ($80,114 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $811 uses 12%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,592 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,060 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Clay County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
People and households in Clay County
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. Health coverage gaps: 17.6% of Clay County residents are uninsured.
| People and households | Clay County | Compared with Texas | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | +11.9 yrs | +6.0 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | -11.5 pts | +0.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.5% | -8.5 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 7.2% | -7.2 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | -5.4 pts | -4.8 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.0% | -3.3 pts | -2.5 pts |
| No vehicle | 2.4% | -3.0 pts | -3.0 pts |
| No health insurance | 17.6% | +0.5 pts | +9.8 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Clay County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 20.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.7% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Four steps for Clay County borrowers
A short checklist for Clay County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Clay County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for Clay County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Clay County borrowers answers to the Texas Department of Banking. For consumer-credit complaints, Texas residents can also contact the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner. If a Clay County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. State-level detail for Clay County borrowers is in the Texas guide.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Where does Clay County rank on income in Texas?
36th of 254, with a median of $80,114. The state median is $78,476.
How much is rent in Clay County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $811 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Does this page cover Henrietta?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Clay County, such as Dean, Petrolia, Byers.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Clay County or elsewhere in Texas, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Clay County check a lender's license?
With the Texas Department of Banking. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.