The Town FilesClay City, Illinois
Village in Clay County · population 847 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $83,200
- Household income
- $53,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 38.9
Clay City is a village of 847 people in Clay County, Illinois. The median home is worth $83,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Illinois towns, more of a college town than 71% of Illinois towns.
How Clay City ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clay City is worth $83,200, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.6 times the median household income of $53,472, which is more affordable than 85% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $610 a month. 75.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clay City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $83,200 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $610 | $960 |
| Median household income | $53,472 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.6× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clay City
| People | Clay City | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 90.4% |
Weather in Clay City
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 21.2°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.6 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 45 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay City since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 3.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 24, 2002.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 21, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 4,625 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,797 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Clay City itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Clay City
3 public schools with 244 students, about 12.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay City Elem School | PK-5 | 106 | 13.3 |
| Clay City High School | 9-12 | 70 | 11.7 |
| Clay City Jr High School | 6-8 | 68 | 11.3 |
Towns near Clay City
- Flora, IL6.9 mi · 4,803 people · home $77,300
- Noble, IL7.1 mi · 633 people · home $58,500
- Louisville, IL10.3 mi · 1,136 people · home $87,100
- Cisne, IL12.8 mi · 634 people · home $76,600
- Olney, IL14.6 mi · 8,701 people · home $99,800
- Fairfield, IL21.1 mi · 4,883 people · home $88,800
- West Salem, IL21.6 mi · 786 people · home $74,600
- Newton, IL23.1 mi · 2,777 people · home $95,400
Clay City questions
Is Clay City, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clay City scores better for retirees than 18% of Illinois towns and quieter than 44%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Clay City?
The median owner-occupied home in Clay City is valued at $83,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,472, so homes cost about 1.6 times income. Median rent is $610 a month.
What is the weather like in Clay City?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 21.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 10.6 inches of snow.
Does Clay City get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)