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Living in
Clayton.
About
Life in Clayton
Living in Clayton means joining a genuinely affluent, educated professional community where you're not just buying a house—you're buying into a dense, walkable neighborhood with real character. The median household income hovers around $123,000, and the median home price sits at $830,000, so this is unquestionably an upscale area; expect to pay roughly $1,692 monthly for rent if you go that route. What makes it actually livable day-to-day, though, is that Clayton functions as a legitimate job hub with three Fortune 500 headquarters (Centene, Emerson Electric, Graybar) and multiple Fortune 1000 companies anchored here, plus an unemployment rate of just 4.1%, which means career stability and opportunity if you work in professional services, finance, or corporate roles.
Clayton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Foreign-Born
13.9%
Broadband Internet
96.0%
of households
Population Growth
+2.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.9% 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 (33.3%), and 4.8% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
17.7%
of residents
65 and Older
13.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.8%
of households
Married Couples
42.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.08
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 64% above MO average
Rent, home values, and income in Clayton
In Clayton, rent runs 64% above the MO average, and home values are 260% above the MO average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
37.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
54.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $890,795 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MO
Unemployment in Clayton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in St. Louis County, which includes Clayton, is close to the MO average.
Unemployment rate
Clayton: St. Louis County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Louis County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Clayton is about 2% of St. Louis 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
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
St. Louis, MO-IL metro area
Commute16.6 min avg
How Clayton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Clayton, most residents drive alone to work (57%), and 86% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
Medium hub7.5M 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 83% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Clayton runs 83% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
57
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
871.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Clayton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 24 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Louis County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Louis County, which includes Clayton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 24 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $7.8M |
| 2024 | 18 | Tornado | $2.0M |
| 2023 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $30,000 |
| 2022 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50.6M |
| 2021 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $124,000 |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
| 2019 | 26 | Thunderstorm Wind | $100,000 |
| 2018 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $50,000 |
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
St. Louis County, county-wide
Clayton is about 2% of St. Louis County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality55 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in St. Louis city, MO (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 5 miles from Clayton) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
55
Good Days
125
per year
Moderate Days
232
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: St. Louis city, MO (5 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 28°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Clayton has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 28°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/70°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/28°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.9"
Annual Snowfall
16.6"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
79
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
114
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 25°F | 2.71" |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 2.28" |
| Mar | 56°F | 38°F | 3.61" |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 4.83" |
| May | 77°F | 59°F | 4.90" |
| Jun | 86°F | 67°F | 4.74" |
| Jul | 90°F | 72°F | 4.21" |
| Aug | 89°F | 70°F | 3.75" |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 3.41" |
| Oct | 70°F | 50°F | 3.20" |
| Nov | 56°F | 39°F | 3.69" |
| Dec | 45°F | 30°F | 2.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Clayton
Uninsured
3.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Clayton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Ssm Health St Mary's Hospital - St Louis
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.3 mi away · Saint Louis
St Louis Childrens Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Saint Louis
Barnes Jewish Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Saint Louis
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.
Education10.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Clayton
Clayton's student/teacher ratio is 10.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 84.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
84.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Clayton (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,267 students · in-state tuition $57,960 · 76% graduate · median earnings $75,998 (10 yrs after entry)
Maryville University of Saint Louis
9.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 5,658 students · in-state tuition $27,166 · 61% graduate · median earnings $67,386 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,624 students · in-state tuition $22,794 · 56% graduate · median earnings $58,321 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,304 students · in-state tuition $32,690 · 55% graduate · median earnings $56,096 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,488 students · in-state tuition $36,084 · 56% graduate · median earnings $49,360 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 960 students · in-state tuition $7,008 · 29% graduate · median earnings $39,919 (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: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Clayton
Clayton has 6 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayGateway Arch National Park
National Park
8 mi awaySte. Geneviève National Historical Park
National Historical Park
49 mi awayNew Philadelphia National Historic Site
National Historic Site
80 mi awayLincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in Clayton
Mid-County Branch
7821 Maryland Ave, 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, Missouri affordable?⌄
Clayton's median rent is $1,692/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $123,000/year. Median home value is $830,000.
Is Clayton, Missouri safe?⌄
Clayton's violent crime rate was 57 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 872 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Clayton, Missouri?⌄
St. Louis County, which includes Clayton, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Clayton, Missouri?⌄
The cost of living in Clayton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,692/month and median household income is $123,000/year. The median home value is $830,000. About 37% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Clayton, Missouri?⌄
The average commute in Clayton is 17 minutes, which is shorter 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