The Town FilesClayton, Wisconsin
Village in Polk County · population 550 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $135,700
- Household income
- $58,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 38.8
Clayton is a village of 550 people in Polk County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $135,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 73% of Wisconsin towns.
How Clayton ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clayton is worth $135,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $58,750, which is more affordable than 92% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $817 a month. 65.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $135,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $817 | $951 |
| Median household income | $58,750 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 65.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.8 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.2% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.1% | 89.1% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 30, 1977 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 21, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 16, 2017.
Severe weather in Polk County since 1996
Polk County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 10, 2002 | Tornado | DR-1432: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Polk County
Polk County had 16,162 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,798 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Clayton
3 public schools with 279 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clayton Elementary | PK-5 | 136 | 9.7 |
| Clayton High | 9-12 | 96 | 10.7 |
| Clayton Middle | 6-8 | 47 | 11.8 |
Towns near Clayton
- Turtle Lake, WI2.9 mi · 640 people · home $259,600
- Clayton, WI3.3 mi · 958 people · home $301,000
- Turtle Lake, WI4.4 mi · 1,037 people · home $157,500
- Clear Lake, WI6.0 mi · 888 people · home $283,000
- Vance Creek, WI6.8 mi · 689 people · home $231,500
- Beaver, WI7.2 mi · 798 people · home $280,600
- Clear Lake, WI7.4 mi · 1,099 people · home $198,700
- Almena, WI8.0 mi · 887 people · home $322,600
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 10% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 39%. 11.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.8).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $135,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,750, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $817 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 54.3 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 30, 1977. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)