About
Life in Clay
Clay is a community of 10,288 people in Alabama. The median household income is $81,920, median rent runs about $2,240 per month, and median home values are around $220,600. Unemployment is low at 3%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Clay at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.3%
Foreign-Born
2.3%
Broadband Internet
85.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics2.3% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Clay: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Clay, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (32.8%), and 1.4% of residents speak Vietnamese at home.
Under 18
28.2%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.7%
of households
Married Couples
59.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.74
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 122% above AL average
Rent, home values, and income in Clay
In Clay, rent runs 122% above the AL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,162
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
90.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $248,722 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for AL
Unemployment in Clay and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Jefferson County, which includes Clay, is close to the AL average.
Unemployment rate
Clay: Jefferson County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Jefferson County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Clay is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Clay Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro area
Commute32.4 min avg
How Clay residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Clay, most residents drive alone to work (89%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Small hub1.6M passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, which covers Clay, runs 14% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
376.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,533.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 28 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Jefferson County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Jefferson County, which includes Clay, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 28 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $5.0M |
| 2022 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 25 | Flash Flood | None reported |
| 2020 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Clay is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Jefferson County, which includes Clay, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
159
per year
Moderate Days
204
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Jefferson County, county-wide
Clay is about 2% of Jefferson County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate89°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Clay has warm summers (avg high 89°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
89°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
59.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
64
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
72
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 31°F | 5.11" |
| Feb | 58°F | 34°F | 5.39" |
| Mar | 67°F | 41°F | 5.71" |
| Apr | 75°F | 48°F | 5.04" |
| May | 82°F | 56°F | 4.77" |
| Jun | 88°F | 65°F | 4.58" |
| Jul | 90°F | 68°F | 4.98" |
| Aug | 90°F | 68°F | 4.45" |
| Sep | 85°F | 61°F | 3.96" |
| Oct | 75°F | 50°F | 3.28" |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 4.64" |
| Dec | 56°F | 34°F | 5.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Clay
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Clay's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
St. Vincent's East
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Birmingham
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
Psychiatric · 12.3 mi away · Birmingham
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Clay
Clay's student/teacher ratio is 17.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Clay (within 15 miles)
Jefferson State Community College
6.4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 5,470 students · in-state tuition $5,520 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,674 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, 17 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Clay
Clay has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument (17 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayFreedom Riders National Monument
National Monument
41 mi awayHorseshoe Bend National Military Park
National Military Park
71 mi awayLittle River Canyon National Preserve
National Preserve
75 mi awayRussell Cave National Monument
National Monument
99 mi awaySelma To Montgomery National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
99 mi awayPublic Libraries in Clay
Clay Public Library
6757 Old Springville Road, Pinson
Cities Near Clay
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Clay?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Clay FAQ
Is Clay, Alabama affordable?⌄
Clay's median rent is $2,240/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $81,920/year. Median home value is $220,600.
Is Clay, Alabama safe?⌄
Clay is policed by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 376 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1533 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Clay, Alabama?⌄
Jefferson County, which includes Clay, has an unemployment rate of 2.9%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Clay, Alabama?⌄
The cost of living in Clay is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,240/month and median household income is $81,920/year. The median home value is $220,600. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Clay, Alabama?⌄
The average commute in Clay is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from