The Town FilesClayton, Illinois
Village in Adams County · population 639 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $91,500
- Household income
- $66,136
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 49.2
Clayton is a village of 639 people in Adams County, Illinois. The median home is worth $91,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 89% of Illinois towns, quieter than 76% of Illinois towns.
How Clayton 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 Clayton is worth $91,500, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $66,136, which is more affordable than 93% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $675 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $91,500 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $675 | $960 |
| Median household income | $66,136 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 75.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.7% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.6% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.9% | 90.4% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.2 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 14, 1961 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 26, 2003.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 32,154 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,986 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Clayton
- Camp Point, IL5.6 mi · 1,121 people · home $127,800
- Golden, IL6.4 mi · 648 people · home $122,800
- Mount Sterling, IL10.7 mi · 2,006 people · home $131,200
- Liberty, IL13.1 mi · 543 people · home $137,500
- Augusta, IL13.8 mi · 553 people · home $83,400
- Mendon, IL17.8 mi · 872 people · home $111,600
- Payson, IL21.2 mi · 1,025 people · home $132,000
- Rushville, IL21.6 mi · 3,005 people · home $94,700
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 89% of Illinois towns and quieter than 76%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.2).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $91,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,136, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $675 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 86.0°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 18.2 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 14, 1961. 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)