The Town FilesClayton, New Mexico
Town in Union County · population 2,643 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $110,500
- Household income
- $34,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.8
Clayton is a town of 2,643 people in Union County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $110,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of New Mexico towns, easier by car than 89% of New Mexico towns, better for young professionals than 86% of New Mexico towns.
How Clayton ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clayton is worth $110,500, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $34,500, which is more affordable than 54% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $652 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $110,500 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $652 | $916 |
| Median household income | $34,500 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.8 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.3% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.5% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.6% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 11.8 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 82.9% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 21.4°F. About 16.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 22.3 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 23, 2010 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 10, 2007.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 10, 2000 | Fire | EM-3154: Severe Fire Threats |
| January 29, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1202: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 1,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,421 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Clayton
5 public schools with 402 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALVIS ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 164 | 14.9 |
| CLAYTON HIGH | 9-12 | 119 | 13.2 |
| CLAYTON JUNIOR HIGH | 7-8 | 62 | 12.4 |
| KISER ELEMENTARY | 5-6 | 54 | 10.8 |
| NORTHEASTERN NM CORRECTIONAL FACILITY | 8-12 | 3 | — |
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 92% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 55%. 20.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.8).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $110,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,500, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $652 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 21.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.1 inches of precipitation a year and 22.3 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 23, 2010. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- 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)