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)

Town numbers

ZIP code42404

Area code270

Living in Clay

Housing in Clay

$142K▲ 10.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Clay home is worth about $142,000, up 10.6% in a year, 39% below the Kentucky typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Clay

—

Not graded

Clay has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent0

Property2

Reported in 20252

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Clay

Full picture →

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.

Madisonville

11%

Dixon

Henderson

Providence

7%Work in townlive and work in Clay 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 246Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Clay →

Health in Clay

Compared with Kentucky

1worse than KY

of 5 measures CDC estimates. The other 4 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 1▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

53.2%Fewer adults seeing a dentistKY 58.1% · worse

Care nearby

Methodist Hospital Union CountyMorganfield · 12.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Regional Health Care Affiliates, Inc. Dba. Health First Community Health Center- ClayClay · 0.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Clay · CMS · HRSAHealth in Clay →

Natural hazards in Clay

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 82% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏚️ Earthquakes💨 Strong wind

0Does Clay flood?no paid flood claims on record 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Clay

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Clay →

Climate in Clay

Full climate →

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.

46° / 28°Winter

68° / 47°Spring

87° / 67°Summer

70° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Clay get?About 12 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 28, with the last in spring around Apr 7.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.7° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Clay →

Schools in Clay

All Clay schools →

School Grade D

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.

DistrictWebster CountySchools1

Clay Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 194 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within KY. Ratings are from neighbors.