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Living in
Clayton.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Clayton
Clayton is a community of 10,962 people in California. The median household income is $175,707, median rent runs about $3,501 per month, and median home values are around $1,055,200. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
Clayton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Foreign-Born
13.4%
Broadband Internet
98.3%
of households
Population Growth
-2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.4% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Clayton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Clayton, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (11.9%), and 3.4% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
23.6%
of residents
65 and Older
16.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
18.7%
of households
Married Couples
61.5%
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 72% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Clayton
In Clayton, rent runs 72% above the CA average, and home values are 44% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,694
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
89.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
0.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,026,888 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Clayton
Unemployment in Contra Costa County, which includes Clayton, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Clayton: Contra Costa County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Contra Costa County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Clayton is less than 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Clayton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute35.5 min avg
How Clayton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Clayton, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 22 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 33 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M 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 89% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Clayton runs 89% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
36.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
706.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Clayton Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Contra Costa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Contra Costa County, which includes Clayton, the most common type is strong wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flood | $70 |
| 2023 | 9 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 12 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 32 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | Flood | 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.
264 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Clayton is less than 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Contra Costa County, which includes Clayton, is typically good — 195 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
195
per year
Moderate Days
168
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Clayton is less than 1% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Clayton has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
19.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
51
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
9
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
60
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 41°F | 3.21" |
| Feb | 62°F | 44°F | 3.19" |
| Mar | 67°F | 47°F | 2.26" |
| Apr | 71°F | 49°F | 1.12" |
| May | 78°F | 53°F | 0.51" |
| Jun | 84°F | 57°F | 0.16" |
| Jul | 88°F | 59°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 88°F | 59°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 85°F | 58°F | 0.06" |
| Oct | 78°F | 53°F | 0.73" |
| Nov | 66°F | 45°F | 1.61" |
| Dec | 58°F | 41°F | 3.18" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Clayton
Uninsured
1.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Clayton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Walnut Creek
John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Concord
John Muir Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Concord
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.
Education26.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Clayton
Clayton's student/teacher ratio is 26.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 59.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
59.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
26.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Clayton (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 15,358 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $56,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,320 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $49,834 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Mary's College of California
11.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $59,769 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,501 (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: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Clayton
Clayton has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
10 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
10 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
24 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
28 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
28 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
31 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
31 mi awayPublic Libraries in Clayton
Clayton Community Library
6125 Clayton Road, Clayton
Cities Near Clayton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Clayton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Clayton FAQ
Is Clayton, California affordable?⌄
Clayton's median rent is $3,500+/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $175,707/year. Median home value is $1,055,200.
Is Clayton, California safe?⌄
Clayton's violent crime rate was 37 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 706 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Clayton, California?⌄
Contra Costa County, which includes Clayton, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Clayton, California?⌄
The cost of living in Clayton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,500+/month and median household income is $175,707/year. The median home value is $1,055,200. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Clayton, California?⌄
The average commute in Clayton is 36 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