Clay CityIL
A town of 816, settled in 1858.
Is Clay City a good place to live?
33% of residents live below the poverty line in Clay City, above both the Illinois town median (8.4%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 769 in Illinois we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Clay City. Clay City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
816 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Clay City: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clay City, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clay City.
Clay City stands out in Illinois and nationally: the median rent there is lower
Clay City’s median rent is $610 a month, below both Illinois’ towns ($1,129 a month) and U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Typical home values rose 7.1% in the year to September 2026.
| Clay City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $610 a month | $1,129 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
With 0.7 jobs for every working resident, most of Clay City’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Clay City for work: only 6% work in town. Clay City’s median household income is $53,000. Since 2013, Clay City has lost 53 jobs, to 227 in 2023.
| Clay City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,000 | $83,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.6% | 8.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Clay City
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 71% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
In Clay City, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Clay City has chilly winters and warm summers. The July high in Clay City is 87°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Clay City is
Clay City beats the Illinois average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9. 40% of adults have obesity in Clay City.
| Clay City | Illinois towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 37% | 35% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 14% |
| What stands out | Clay City | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.6% | 9.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 10.4% | 13.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.1% | 6.3% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Everything we know about Clay City
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Clay City
About 2 of every 100 Clay City residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Illinois.
94% of working residents leave Clay City for work
Where Clay City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Clay City
Village in Illinois, United States
Clay City is a village in Clay County, Illinois, United States. The population was 847 at the 2020 census. Clay City was named for the Kentucky statesman Henry Clay.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 433 ft
- ZIP code
- 62824
Questions about Clay City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clay City, IL a good place to live?
Clay City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Clay City, IL known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Hal Wiltse and Robert E. Doherty.