Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Of the 702 Michigan towns we compare, none has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Clayton. Clayton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Clayton beats most towns.
Census counts: 368 in 1880, a peak of 505 in 1970, 311 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 2 maps from 1962 on.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Ordered by what stands out in Clayton.
Clayton’s middle household income is $66,000, where Michigan’s towns sit at $77,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. In Clayton, just over a fifth of residents live below the poverty line. The top destinations are Adrian (17%), Hudson (9%) and Hillsdale (5%). For Clayton, the average commute is 27 minutes.
| Clayton | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 21% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.8% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
In July, afternoons reach 83°; in January, nights fall to 17°, and about 33 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in two thirds of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Clayton break down as 45% from inland flooding and 19% from tornadoes.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Clayton: 17% of adults worry about having enough food, above both the Michigan town median (14%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). For adults locally, the share who have obesity is 43%. Against the Michigan average, Clayton comes out ahead on 1 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 8. In Clayton, just over a fifth of adults report frequent mental distress, and 20% smoke cigarettes.
| Clayton | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 37% | 35% |
| What stands out | Clayton | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 8% | 8.9% |
| More smokers | 19.5% | 14.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Among households in Clayton, 71% own their home. Values rose 8.7% in the 12 months to September 2026. Its rent at the middle of the market stands at $1,071 a month.
| Clayton | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 71% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,071 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Clayton Park | — | 6 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clayton, 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.
Where Clayton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
2 within 15 miles of the center of Clayton
About 2 of every 100 Clayton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Village in Michigan, United States
Clayton is a village in Lenawee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 311 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Hudson Township to the west and Dover Township to the east.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Clayton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
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