The Town FilesClay City, Indiana
Town in Clay County · population 878 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $94,500
- Household income
- $72,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 36.2
Clay City is a town of 878 people in Clay County, Indiana. The median home is worth $94,500, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). It ranks more of a college town than 79% of Indiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 78% of Indiana towns, easier by car than 76% of Indiana towns.
How Clay City ranks
Percentile among Indiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Indiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clay City is worth $94,500, below the typical Indiana town ($150,400). Homes cost about 1.3 times the median household income of $72,292, which is more affordable than 99% of Indiana towns. Median rent is $756 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clay City | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $94,500 | $150,400 |
| Median rent | $756 | $888 |
| Median household income | $72,292 | $61,953 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.3× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 73.4% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1966 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Clay City
| People | Clay City | Typical Indiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 17.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 17.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.2% | 6.2% |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 24.7 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 89.2% |
Weather in Clay City
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.6°F. About 47.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.7 inches of snow (typical Indiana town: 21.1 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 113 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Indiana town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 27, 1973 about 4.4 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 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 5, 1975.
Severe weather in Clay County since 1996
Clay County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3641: Severe Winter Storm |
| July 22, 2025 | Flood | DR-4882: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4515: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3456: Covid-19 |
| April 22, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4173: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Clay County
Clay County had 8,172 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,786 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Clay City itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Clay City
2 public schools with 732 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay City Elementary School | K-6 | 382 | 20.1 |
| Clay City Jr-Sr High School | 7-12 | 350 | 12.5 |
Towns near Clay City
- Jasonville, IN9.2 mi · 1,983 people · home $65,900
- Hymera, IN11.8 mi · 653 people · home $90,500
- Worthington, IN13.1 mi · 1,393 people · home $91,400
- Farmersburg, IN14.4 mi · 1,069 people · home $78,000
- Dugger, IN16.3 mi · 797 people · home $87,800
- Shelburn, IN16.7 mi · 1,107 people · home $73,700
- Linton, IN16.9 mi · 5,133 people · home $86,000
- Brazil, IN17.0 mi · 8,181 people · home $113,900
Clay City questions
Is Clay City, Indiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clay City scores better for retirees than 53% of Indiana towns and quieter than 49%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Clay City?
The median owner-occupied home in Clay City is valued at $94,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,292, so homes cost about 1.3 times income. Median rent is $756 a month.
What is the weather like in Clay City?
July highs average 85.6°F and January lows 20.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.2 inches of precipitation a year and 14.7 inches of snow.
Does Clay City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 27, 1973. The typical Indiana town has had 23.
- 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)