2018 · Clay-Drug-Store-ky · Wikimedia Commons
Clay’s story
189 years in pictures
6 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1837Clay is settled
- 2004KYMap-doton-Clay
- 2018Clay-Drug-Store-ky
ClayKY
A town of 996, settled in 1837. Public schools that outperform most of Kentucky.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
996
−12.7% since 2010
Typical home
$142K
+10.6% in a year
Household income
$61K
median
Median age
36.0
years
Jobs based here
246
A commuter town
What makes Clay stand out
The 3 things Clay does most differently from other towns.
Small town
996 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Clay’s report card
Now in Clay
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Clay? Is a D for its schools right?
Your answer becomes a post in Clay’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clay. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Clay’s public schools outperform 7% of Kentucky districts
The public schools Clay’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 93% of Kentucky’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.
DSchool Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Elementary School | PK–6 | 194 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within KY on state tests and graduationAll 1 schools →
Housing
A typical Clay home is worth about $142K
The typical Clay home is worth about $142,000, up 10.6% in a year, 39% below the Kentucky typical home.
$142KZillow home value
Typical home value
Clay$142K
Kentucky$233K
+10.6%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 82% of U.S. communities.
82risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesStrong wind
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Clay
Most working residents leave Clay for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Madisonville (11%), Dixon (9%) and Henderson (6%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
7%work in town
Where working residents work
In Clay7%
Madisonville11%
Dixon9%
Henderson6%
Providence4%
20 mi
median commute distance
246
jobs based in Clay
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers
Clay has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 26°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
12″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–46°
Spring47–68°
Summer67–87°
Fall48–70°
Oct 28
typical first frost
Apr 7
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Safety
Crime reported in Clay
2 crimes were reported in Clay in 2025: 2 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Clay is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Health
How healthy Clay is
Clay beats the Kentucky average on 0 of 5 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
5 measures vs. Kentucky
0 better4 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Clay | KY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults seeing a dentist | 53.2% | 58.1% |
Methodist Hospital Union County
12.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
A shrinking town
Clay has shrunk 12.7% since 2010
1,181 people in 2010; 996 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
About Clay
City in Kentucky, United States
Clay is a home rule-class city in Webster County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 1,031 at the 2020 census. Settled in 1837, the city is named for the statesman Henry Clay. In 2022, it became a wet city after a petition put the measure on the ballot.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1837
- Population
- 1,031
- Area
- 0.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 381 ft
- ZIP code
- 42404
- Area code
- 270
More about Clay
Still missing for Clay:local news coverageupcoming events