The Town FilesClayton, Alabama
City in Barbour County · population 2,265 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $72,300
- Household income
- $21,641
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.6
Clayton is a city of 2,265 people in Barbour County, Alabama. The median home is worth $72,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 88% of Alabama towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Alabama towns.
How Clayton ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clayton is worth $72,300, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $21,641, which is more affordable than 32% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $766 a month. 52.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $72,300 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $766 | $834 |
| Median household income | $21,641 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.3% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 8.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.1% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.7% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 54.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 37.0°F. About 55.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 44 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 25, 1986 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 12, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Barbour County since 1996
Barbour County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 20, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4563: Hurricane Sally |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4554: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Barbour County
Barbour County had 7,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,590 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 23.5%.
Public schools in Clayton
2 public schools with 450 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbour County High School | 7-12 | 312 | 18.4 |
| Barbour County Primary School | PK-1 | 138 | 15.3 |
Towns near Clayton
- Clio, AL14.9 mi · 1,220 people · home $65,600
- Eufaula, AL18.2 mi · 12,882 people · home $139,900
- Union Springs, AL23.2 mi · 3,358 people · home $80,400
- Brundidge, AL23.9 mi · 2,073 people · home $94,000
- Ariton, AL24.6 mi · 662 people · home $206,600
- Abbeville, AL24.9 mi · 2,358 people · home $107,600
- Georgetown-Quitman County unified government, GA26.8 mi · 2,235 people · home $104,600
- Fort Gaines, GA29.5 mi · 995 people · home $90,500
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 13% of Alabama towns and quieter than 45%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $72,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $21,641, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $766 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 37.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 25, 1986. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)