The Town FilesClayton, North Carolina
Town in Johnston County · population 26,307 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $329,600
- Household income
- $78,822
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 33.0
Clayton is a town of 26,307 people in Johnston County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $329,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 88% of North Carolina towns, more of a college town than 88% of North Carolina towns.
How Clayton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clayton is worth $329,600, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $78,822, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,661 a month. 62.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $329,600 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,661 | $969 |
| Median household income | $78,822 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 62.7% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2006 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.2% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.4% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 52.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.2 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 77 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 23, 1992 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 24, 1986.
Severe weather in Johnston County since 1996
Johnston County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Johnston County
Johnston County had 61,005 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,305 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Clayton
14 public schools with 13,431 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton High | 9-12 | 1,942 | 18.5 |
| Cleveland High | 9-12 | 1,896 | 19.5 |
| American Leadership Academy - Johnston (charter) | K-11 | 1,865 | 21.9 |
| River Dell Elementary | PK-5 | 942 | 15.0 |
| Riverwood Middle | 6-8 | 914 | 19.4 |
| Cleveland Elementary | PK-5 | 816 | 16.7 |
| Johnston Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 751 | 25.0 |
| Riverwood Elementary | PK-5 | 739 | 14.5 |
| West Clayton Elementary | PK-5 | 718 | 12.8 |
| Swift Creek Middle | 6-8 | 698 | 15.9 |
| Powhatan Elementary | PK-5 | 614 | 15.4 |
| Clayton Middle | 6-8 | 582 | 14.9 |
Towns near Clayton
- Archer Lodge, NC4.6 mi · 4,797 people · home $324,500
- Wilson's Mills, NC6.8 mi · 2,534 people · home $241,800
- Knightdale, NC9.7 mi · 19,435 people · home $380,100
- Garner, NC9.7 mi · 31,159 people · home $355,000
- Smithfield, NC10.7 mi · 11,292 people · home $242,500
- Wendell, NC10.8 mi · 9,793 people · home $330,500
- Selma, NC11.9 mi · 6,317 people · home $171,600
- Zebulon, NC14.0 mi · 6,903 people · home $320,700
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 14% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 7%. 10.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.0).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $329,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,822, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,661 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 89.0°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.1 inches of precipitation a year and 3.2 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 23, 1992. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)