The Town Files

Clay County, Kentucky

19,921 people. The median home is worth $90,700 (typical Kentucky town: $161,450) and the median household earns $40,900.

Towns in Clay County

Towns in Clay County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Manchester1,512$140,500$23,52941.9

People and housing

Clay CountyTypical Kentucky town
Median home value$90,700$161,450
Median rent$724$837
Median household income$40,900$54,969
Median age40.239.1
Bachelor's degree or higher15.5%19.8%
Below the poverty line32.4%18.0%

Jobs and pay

4,077 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,485 a year.

Largest industries in Clay CountyHealth care & social assistan…1,060 jobs · $51,109Retail567 jobs · $26,253Manufacturing193 jobs · $28,981Professional & technical serv…112 jobs · $48,084Construction101 jobs · $50,052Finance & insurance91 jobs · $44,687
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Clay County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 6.4%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 404 storm events in Clay County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Clay County by type since 1996Hail45Flood26Drought4High Wind7Heavy Rain6Heavy Snow26Debris Flow4Flash Flood41Frost/Freeze11Winter Storm11
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Clay County has been included in 48 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
May 29, 2026Winter StormDR-4913: Severe Winter Storm
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3633: Severe Winter Storm
May 23, 2025Severe StormDR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes
April 24, 2025Severe StormDR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
April 3, 2025Severe StormEM-3626: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding
February 24, 2025Severe StormDR-4860: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).