TF Rail - Clayton Depot 1913 p50, 1913
Clayton’s story
205 years in pictures
Census counts: 70 in 1870, 2,003 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1913 and 3 maps from 1886 on.
- 1821Clayton is settled
ClaytonGA
A regional job hub with 1,823 jobs.
Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0
Population
2,089
2025 Census estimate · +4.9% since 2020
Typical home
$365K
+1.5% in a year
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
45.7
years
Jobs based here
1,823
A job hub
Is Clayton a good place to live?
Clayton’s best subject grade is an A for schools; its weakest is a D for incomes. Clayton’s average trip to work is 14 minutes, below both the Georgia town median (26 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Of the 265 Georgia towns we compare, none has a lower July high than Clayton. Clayton is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 76% of U.S. towns. On civic life, just 12 of Georgia’s 307 towns do better. Clayton has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Clayton stand out
Where Clayton beats most towns.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here1,823
Residents who work769
Work
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
3.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
0historic places
History
Settled in 1821
A long history
A history going back 205 years.
A job hub
Every workday, about 1,683 people come to Clayton for work
Where Clayton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,823jobs based in Clayton
18%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Clayton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Georgia), ordered by how far Clayton is from typical.
Jobs & incomeDOpen →SchoolsBeat 87% of Georgia districts on tests and graduationAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8 of 20; 16.5% of households have no carA−Open →HealthMountain Lakes Medical Center 2.8 miles awayCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0% conserved landDOpen →History2 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life7.6 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 85° summer afternoons, 2″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here26% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Clayton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clayton, and how to reach them.
PowerGeorgia Power16.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRabun County Water & Sewer AuthorityNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers93% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offChechero Recycling Center, 2 miOpenStreetMap
Register to voteOnlineIn Georgia you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRabun County Board of Elections and RegistrationRabun County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code3052530525 100%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 Clayton.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
With 2.4 jobs for every working resident, Clayton draws in 1,683 commuters
Most working residents leave Clayton for work: only 18% work in town. 21% of residents live below the poverty line in Clayton, against 15% in Georgia’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. The median household income in Clayton is $57,000.
18%work in town
| Clayton | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 21% | 15% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 9.1% | 8% |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $63,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Clayton18%
Gainesville3%
Dillard2%
Atlanta2%
Franklin2%
21 mi
median commute distance
1,823
jobs based in Clayton
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Older than Georgia overall
25% of residents are 65 or older in Clayton. Clayton has grown 4.9% since 2020, to 2,089 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. Clayton’s median age is 45.7 years.
45.7median age · GA 37.6
| Clayton | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 15% | 18% |
| Median age | 45.7 years | 36.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 18% | 24% | 22% |
ClaytonGeorgiaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma18%
High school31%
Some college16%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s18%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 36% and 61% women
The Census survey reached too few of Clayton’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±12.6 points. Across Georgia, 51.2% of residents are women.
| Clayton | GA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.1% | 12.1% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.1% | 11.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.6% | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.7% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.9% | 12.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.1% | 12.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 10.8% | 9.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 13.8% | 5.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 18.3% | 10.8% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31% | 26.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.9% | 19.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.3% | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 18% | 21.1% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.5% | 13.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,100, single groups can be off by several points
HealthC
Health in Clayton trails 68% of U.S. towns
Clayton beats the Georgia average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7. 41% of Clayton adults have high blood pressure.
32%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Clayton | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 40% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 38% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 14% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Georgia
3 better22 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Clayton | GA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.7% | 9.6% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 12.1% | 15% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.3% | 7% |
Mountain Lakes Medical Center
2.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
In Clayton, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
Clayton has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. Of the 265 Georgia towns we compare, none has a lower January low than Clayton.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–52°
Spring44–69°
Summer61–83°
Fall46–69°
Oct 29
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Clayton
Clayton's reported crime rate is well above Georgia's. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts. 7 violent crimes were reported in 2024.
| Clayton | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 28.3 per 1,000 residents | 18.4 | 11.5 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2024) | 3.4 per 1,000 residents | 2.4 | 1.7 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Clayton3.4
Georgia3.3
U.S.3.6
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Clayton28.3
Georgia17.1
U.S.17.7
7
violent crimes reported in 2024
59
property crimes reported in 2024
FBI crime data, 2024 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade B
The typical home in Clayton is valued at about $365K
The typical Clayton home is worth about $365,000, up 1.5% in a year, 11% above the Georgia typical home.
$365KZillow home value
| Clayton | Georgia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $814 a month | $1,154 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 58% | 73% |
Typical home value
Clayton$365K
Georgia$329K
+1.5%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in Clayton
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 56% of U.S. communities. Since 2004, 8 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Clayton.
56risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
8
paid flood claims since 2004
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
0.3%conserved
0.3%
conserved · 6 of 2,167 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stekoa Creek Park | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clayton
20pages on Clayton
The big questions
SchoolsABeat 87% of GA districtsSafety3.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2024)HealthCBetter than GA on 3 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB$365K typical home · up 1.5% in a yearWork & commuteD$57K median household income · 1,823 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 56% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Clayton; the nearest are
North Georgia Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Clarkesville17.9 mi$3,330 in-state tuitionWestern Carolina UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Cullowhee, NC32.3 mi$4,630 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Clayton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Georgia.
About Clayton
City in Georgia, United States
Clayton is a city in Rabun County, in the far northeast of Georgia, United States. Its population was 2,003 at the 2020 census. The county seat of Rabun County, it is in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1821
- Area
- 3.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,929 ft
- ZIP code
- 30525
- Area code
- 706
Questions about Clayton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clayton, GA expensive?
That is 5.4 years of the area's median household income ($67,493 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
What is Clayton, GA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Nancy Schaefer and Mike Ciochetti.