1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Clayton County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $67,242. 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
- Who lives in Clayton County
- Work, industries and travel time in Clayton County
- What Clayton County households earn
- What it costs to live in Clayton County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Clayton County
- The counties around Clayton County
- Clayton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Clayton County
- A Clayton County household budget, worked through
- Licensing and complaints for Clayton County
- Four steps for Clayton County borrowers
- More guides for Clayton County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Clayton County
Clayton County is home to about 17,013 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 41st most populous of 99 county-level areas in Iowa. Spread over 778 square miles, that works out to roughly 21.9 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Clayton County is not part of any metropolitan area. Guttenberg is the biggest of its 16 Census places, at roughly 1,782 people (10% of the county total).
Work, industries and travel time in Clayton County
The biggest employer of Clayton County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by manufacturing (17%). Compared with Iowa, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 4%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.5% in Clayton County. 13% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.9% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Sector | Clayton County | Compared with Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.7% | -7.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 16.6% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Construction | 11.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.5% | +6.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 5.7% | -1.3 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clayton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Clayton County households earn
At $67,242, the typical Clayton County household income is 2% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 71st among Iowa's 99 county-level areas.
| Household income | Clayton County | vs Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.0% | +1.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.5% | +2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.3% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -4.4 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 31% clear $100,000. 10.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.1%). For a borrower in Clayton 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 Clayton County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $790 in Clayton County versus $972 statewide. By the Census definition, 46% of Clayton County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $168,500, a typical Clayton County house costs 2.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 78% of Clayton County households own their home and 22% rent. Median construction year: 1960.
| Cost | Clayton County | Iowa figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $790/mo | $972/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $168,500 | $208,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 4.5% | 3.2% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 8% | n/a |
Because most Clayton 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Clayton County
16 Census places fall mainly inside Clayton County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 9,294 residents, leaving about 45% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Garnavillo has the highest median household income on the list ($75,357) and McGregor the lowest ($57,361), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $615 in McGregor to $1,070 in Monona. None of the 16 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guttenberg | city | 1,782 | $57,599 | $870 | 11 mi |
| Monona | city | 1,531 | $74,286 | $1,070 | 15 mi |
| Elkader | city | 1,293 | $62,857 | $859 | 4 mi |
| Strawberry Point | city | 1,267 | $57,778 | $670 | 15 mi |
| Garnavillo | city | 816 | $75,357 | $922 | 5 mi |
| McGregor | city | 719 | $57,361 | $615 | 15 mi |
| Marquette | city | 443 | $42,292 | $717 | 15 mi |
| Farmersburg | city | 375 | $51,667 | $716 | 8 mi |
| Luana | city | 317 | $76,750 | $800 | 17 mi |
| Volga | city | 216 | $54,063 | n/a | 11 mi |
| North Buena Vista | city | 139 | $51,719 | $760 | 22 mi |
| Osterdock | city | 136 | $51,467 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Garber | city | 105 | $49,821 | $475 | 7 mi |
| St. Olaf | city | 76 | $98,125 | $775 | 7 mi |
The counties around Clayton County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 35 miles). Dubuque County leads the group on income ($77,630), Fayette County trails ($60,165), and Clayton County out-earns 3 of the six. Some neighbors are in Wisconsin. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Clayton County resident follows Iowa rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton County | - | $67,242 | $790/mo | 78% |
| Delaware County, IA | 26 mi | $74,989 | $764/mo | 80% |
| Fayette County, IA | 26 mi | $60,165 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Allamakee County, IA | 30 mi | $70,694 | $796/mo | 80% |
| Grant County, WI | 32 mi | $66,858 | $813/mo | 70% |
| Crawford County, WI | 34 mi | $64,094 | $789/mo | 77% |
| Dubuque County, IA | 35 mi | $77,630 | $959/mo | 73% |
Clayton County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.4%, against 5.0% for Iowa.
| Indicator | Clayton County | All of Iowa | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.5% | 31.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | 6.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.4% | 5.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 11.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.9% | 11.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Before borrowing in Clayton County
Based on the Clayton County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Retirees. At a median age of 46.4, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Rent squeeze. 46% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
A Clayton County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Clayton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,604 gross per month ($67,242 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $790, takes 14% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,227 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Licensing and complaints for Clayton County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Clayton County resident can confirm its license with the Iowa Division of Banking. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Iowa state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Clayton County borrowers
A short checklist for Clayton County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Clayton County
The Iowa guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Clayton County earn?
The median is $67,242; 31% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Clayton County rent compare with Iowa?
$790 locally versus $972 for the state, 19% below.
Which towns does the Clayton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 16 Census places: Guttenberg, Monona, Elkader, Strawberry Point, Garnavillo.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Clayton County or elsewhere in Iowa, the same rules apply.
Is there a Clayton County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Iowa it is the Iowa Division of Banking.