The Town FilesClayton, New York
Village in Jefferson County · population 1,705 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $231,800
- Household income
- $60,573
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 116 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 45.2
Clayton is a village of 1,705 people in Jefferson County, New York. The median home is worth $231,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks better for retirees than 83% of New York towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of New York towns, better for young professionals than 75% of New York towns.
How Clayton ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clayton is worth $231,800, above the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $60,573, which is more affordable than 29% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,071 a month. 50.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $231,800 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,071 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $60,573 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 50.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1940 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.6% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.9% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.5% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 16.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 91.1% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 37.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 116.4 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 15, 2018.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4825: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby |
| November 20, 2022 | Winter Storm | EM-3589: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| December 19, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4472: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 40,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,545 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Clayton
1 public school with 263 students, about 11.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| GUARDINO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 263 | 11.4 |
Towns near Clayton
- Clayton, NY2.3 mi · 4,770 people · home $226,800
- Orleans, NY6.4 mi · 2,788 people · home $190,300
- La Fargeville, NY7.0 mi · 537 people · home $307,100
- Alexandria Bay, NY10.5 mi · 924 people · home $154,100
- Alexandria, NY11.6 mi · 3,741 people · home $172,500
- Chaumont, NY11.9 mi · 615 people · home $212,800
- Cape Vincent, NY13.2 mi · 2,765 people · home $238,700
- Theresa, NY14.3 mi · 752 people · home $164,900
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 83% of New York towns and quieter than 54%. 28.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $231,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,573, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,071 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 79.2°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.1 inches of precipitation a year and 116.4 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Clayton in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)