City Hall, 2012
Clay’s story
148 years in pictures
Census counts: 10,987 in 1990, a low of 4,947 in 2000, 10,291 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 3 maps from 1905 on.
- 1878Clay is settled
ClayAL
A town of 10,198, settled in 1878.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
10,198
2025 Census estimate · −0.9% since 2020
Typical home
$249K
+0.9% in a year
Household income
$82K
median
Median age
39.9
years
Jobs based here
1,231
A commuter town
TownGrade
D
#132 of 187 in AL
Is Clay a good place to live?
Clay earns a D, ranked 132nd of 187 in Alabama. What it does well: natural-hazard risk is low. Clay’s median rent is $2,240 a month, against $940 a month in Alabama’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. On cost of living, just 24 of Alabama’s 308 towns do worse. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 85% of U.S. towns.
WeakestC−Walkability
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Clay for work
Where Clay’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,231jobs based in Clay
1%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Clay grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Alabama), ordered by how far Clay is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.5 of 20; 1% of households have no car; 0.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsCOpen →HealthSt. Vincent's East 7.1 miles awayC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 42% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB−Open →Jobs & income$82K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landC−Open →History2 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life2.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 28 attractions →Legion Field and 20 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Clay. Close and well known come first.
18 mi Stadium & arenaLegion Field
16 mi Stadium & arenaProtective Stadium
15 mi MuseumSloss Furnaces
16 mi Stadium & arenaLegacy Arena33 mi LakeLewis Smith Lake
32 mi MuseumInternational Motorsports Hall of FameSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Legion Field: USGS, Public domain · Protective Stadium: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sloss Furnaces: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Legacy Arena: AuburnShuffle, CC0 · International Motorsports Hall of Fame: BWard 1997, CC BY 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Clay: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clay, and how to reach them.
PowerAlabama Power17.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCentral Alabama Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Clay’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Alabama you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJefferson - Bessemer County Circuit ClerkJefferson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP codes35126, 35173, 3521535126 73% · 35173 14% · 35215 11%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clay.
Clay looks healthier within Alabama than nationally and has hotter summers than most of the country, though not than most of Alabama; it also has little public open land.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
About one in three of Clay’s working residents commute to Birmingham
Clay has 1,231 jobs for its 4,493 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Clay for work: only 1% work in town. Clay’s average trip to work is 32 minutes. Since 2013, Clay has added 185 jobs, to 1,231 in 2023.
1%work in town
| Clay | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.5% | 10% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 17% | 16% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 6.7% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Clay1%
Birmingham37%
Trussville7%
Hoover6%
Homewood5%
17 mi
median commute distance
1,231
jobs based in Clay
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 15% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsC
Public schools in Clay fall behind 69% of Alabama districts
Its public schools are run by the Jefferson County school district. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is ClayChalkville High School, with 1,377 students.
31%of AL districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClayChalkville Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 952 | C− |
| ClayChalkville High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,377 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within AL on state tests and graduation
Climate
In Clay, expect mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 89.5°: hotter than most of the country, but cooler than 83% of Alabama places with climate records; January nights average 32.4°.
Clay has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Clay is 90°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
90°summer high
| Clay | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 90°F | 91°F | 85°F |
| January low | 32°F | 33°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–55°
Spring50–73°
Summer67–88°
Fall51–74°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 4
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
90°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than Alabama overall
Children under 18 are 28% of residents (22% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 17% of residents (22% statewide). 23% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 28% across Alabama.
39.9median age · AL 39.3
| Clay | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 23% | 23% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 19% | 18% | 18% |
ClayAlabamaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school31%
Some college26%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate7%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 89 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±3.1 points). Across Alabama, 51.4% of residents are women.
| Clay | AL | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 14.3% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 13.9% | 10.4% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.2% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.4% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13% | 12.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.4% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11% | 10.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.9% | 7.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.9% | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.1% | 30.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 26.3% | 20.8% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.5% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.4% | 17.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.8% | 11.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthC+
Clay is less healthy than 61% of U.S. towns
Within Alabama it is healthier than 60% of the 187 graded towns: much of Alabama scores lower on these measures.
Clay tracks Alabama closely on all 32 CDC measures. 38% of Clay adults feel lonely.
39%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Clay | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 36% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 43% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 15% | 12% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 19% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Alabama
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
St. Vincent's East
7.1 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
60th
percentile among AL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Clay faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 58% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Clay since 2013.
42risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2013
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C+
A typical Clay home is worth about $249K
The typical Clay home is worth about $249,000, up 0.9% in a year, close to the Alabama typical home. 91% of households own their home in Clay.
$249KZillow home value
Typical home value
Clay$249K
Alabama$239K
Market temperature
40
days on market
100.2%
sale-to-list price
+0.9%
value change, 1 year
13
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsC−
1.7% of Clay is conserved land
Just 126 of its 7,239 acres are conserved, so there is little public open land in Clay itself; its outdoors grade is C−.
0.7 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve. The biggest park or preserve is Cosby Lake Park, at 31 acres.
1.7%conserved
| Clay | Alabama towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.7% | 1.2% | 4.3% |
1.7%
conserved · 126 of 7,239 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cosby Lake Park | 0.6 mi | 31 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clay
19pages on Clay
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Clay
About 3 of every 100 Clay residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Alabama.
About Clay
City in Alabama, United States
Clay is a city in northeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area in the north-central part of the state. Local government is run by a mayor and city council. As of the 2020 census, Clay had a population of 10,291. Before incorporation on June 6, 2000, it was a census-designated place (CDP). The oldest church in Jefferson County, Mount Calvary Presbyterian Church, is located in Clay. The congregation has been meeting continually since 1806, when it was established by early Scots-American settlers. On January 23, 2012, a total of 231 homes and businesses were either damaged or destroyed when an EF3 tornado passed th…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 10 sq mi
- Elevation
- 935 ft
- ZIP code
- 35048
- Area code
- 205
Clay’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Clay.
TrussvilleGrayson ValleyPinsonCenter PointClay
How the neighbors grade
| Town | AL rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | #132 | D | C+ | — | C | C+ |
| Trussville | #21 | A− | C+ | C+ | A+ | A |
| Grayson Valley | #113 | C− | B− | — | C | B− |
| Pinson | #146 | D | B− | — | C | C− |
| Center Point | #116 | C− | B | — | C | D− |
Clay, Grayson Valley, Pinson and Center Point report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Clay with a neighbor →
Questions about Clay
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clay, AL a good place to live?
Clay grades D overall, better than 14% of U.S. towns and #132 of 187 in Alabama. It grades C+ for health and C for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Clay, AL expensive?
That is 3.5 years of the area's median household income ($71,498 across the Birmingham, AL metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is Clay, AL known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Clayne Crawford and Hayden Moore.