1st Advantage MortgageIn Clay County, West Virginia, the typical household earns $42,318 a year and the typical rent is $651. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's West Virginia license first.
On this page
- Clay County by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Clay County
- Income in Clay County compared with West Virginia
- Employment and commuting in Clay County
- Places inside Clay County
- How Clay County compares with nearby counties
- Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
- More Clay County figures
- What the numbers mean for Clay County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
- Four steps for Clay County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Clay County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Clay County's population at 7,835; only 46 of West Virginia's 55 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 342 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 23 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Charleston, WV metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Clay, with about 378 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. With so few households sampled, Clay County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Renting and owning in Clay County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $651 in Clay County versus $872 statewide. By the Census definition, 67% of Clay County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $109,100, about 2.6 times the median household income. 76% of Clay County households own their home and 24% rent. The median year built is 1985.
| Cost | Clay County | West Virginia figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $651/mo | $872/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $109,100 | $162,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 75% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 67% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.0% | 13.6% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Income in Clay County compared with West Virginia
Clay County households have a median income of $42,318 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 51st of 55 in West Virginia.
| Households earning | Clay County | +/- vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.7% | +12.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | -0.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.4% | -9.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -3.1 pts |
Some 43% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 15% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 26.4%, 10 points higher than the state's 16.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.477 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Clay County
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 13%. Construction stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Clay County averages 11.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.4%). 39% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 10.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Clay County | Difference from West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 32.9% | +4.9 pts |
| Construction | 12.6% | +6.0 pts |
| Public administration | 11.8% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -2.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.8% | +2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.7% | -2.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Clay County
Just one Census place, Clay, lies mainly within Clay County; it holds about 378 people. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | town | 378 | n/a | $665 | 0 mi |
How Clay County compares with nearby counties
Nicholas County is closest, 19 miles from center to center; the sixth, Fayette County, is 30 miles off. Income ranges from $43,980 in Calhoun County to $60,943 in Kanawha County; all six of these neighbors top Clay County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | - | $42,318 | $651/mo | 76% |
| Nicholas County, WV | 19 mi | $54,639 | $686/mo | 82% |
| Roane County, WV | 24 mi | $45,778 | $614/mo | 79% |
| Braxton County, WV | 25 mi | $50,331 | $606/mo | 77% |
| Kanawha County, WV | 26 mi | $60,943 | $906/mo | 71% |
| Calhoun County, WV | 27 mi | $43,980 | $473/mo | 87% |
| Fayette County, WV | 30 mi | $53,194 | $788/mo | 78% |
Debt-to-income at Clay County's medians
How much room does a median Clay County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,526 a month: gross income for a household at the Clay County median
- Less median rent of $651, which is 18% of it
- $619: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $651, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Clay County figures
Degree holders: 11% of adults over 25. 5.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Clay County | West Virginia statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 | 42.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.3% | 24.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.1% | 10.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.3% | 8.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 9.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.4% | 16.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 11.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Clay County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 12.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 12.2% |
| 60+ min | 26.6% |
What the numbers mean for Clay County borrowers
Where the Clay County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 39% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 32% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Fixed incomes. Clay County's median age is 45.4. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Free help first. 26% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Checking a lender's license in West Virginia
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Clay County, check the West Virginia Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The West Virginia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Clay County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Clay County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the West Virginia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Clay County household make?
About $42,318 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 29% below the West Virginia median.
How does Clay County rent compare with West Virginia?
$651 locally versus $872 for the state, 25% below.
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 76% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Clay County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Clay.
Are Clay County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.