The Town FilesClay, Kentucky
City in Webster County · population 1,031 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $74,400
- Household income
- $61,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 10 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 36.0
Clay is a city of 1,031 people in Webster County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $74,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks easier by car than 98% of Kentucky towns, quieter than 91% of Kentucky towns, better for families than 74% of Kentucky towns.
How Clay ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clay is worth $74,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 1.2 times the median household income of $61,250, which is more affordable than 99% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $772 a month. 66.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clay | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $74,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $772 | $837 |
| Median household income | $61,250 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 66.3% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clay
| People | Clay | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.6% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 88.6% |
Weather in Clay
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 48.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 9.7 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 56 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 93 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 6, 2005 about 7.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 2, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 28, 2009.
Severe weather in Webster County since 1996
Webster County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 16, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3624: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Landslides |
| April 10, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4702: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Webster County
Webster County had 2,695 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,524 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Clay itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Clay
1 public school with 201 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Elementary School | PK-6 | 201 | 16.8 |
Towns near Clay
- Providence, KY6.5 mi · 2,892 people · home $60,300
- Dixon, KY7.7 mi · 933 people · home $82,500
- Sturgis, KY10.4 mi · 1,735 people · home $84,500
- Breckinridge Center, KY14.5 mi · 1,282 people · home —
- Morganfield, KY15.1 mi · 3,256 people · home $113,600
- Marion, KY17.4 mi · 2,916 people · home $97,300
- Sebree, KY19.0 mi · 1,574 people · home $106,500
- Hanson, KY19.1 mi · 758 people · home $141,500
Clay questions
Is Clay, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clay scores better for retirees than 43% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 91%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.0).
How much does a house cost in Clay?
The median owner-occupied home in Clay is valued at $74,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,250, so homes cost about 1.2 times income. Median rent is $772 a month.
What is the weather like in Clay?
July highs average 89.6°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.5 inches of precipitation a year and 9.7 inches of snow.
Does Clay get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 6, 2005. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)