ClaytonNM
A town of 2,753, settled in 1887. A typical home worth about $109K.
Population
2,753
−11.3% since 2010
Typical home
$109K
−13% in a year
Household income
$35K
median
Jobs based here
809
Balanced
What makes Clayton stand out The 3 things Clayton does most differently from other towns.
A shrinking town Clayton has shrunk 11.3% since 2010 2,980 people in 2010; 2,753 today.
What’s changed most in Clayton? 2,980 2010
2,643 2020
2,753 Today
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Residents weigh in
Clayton is #71 of 71 in NM for “Vacation-home towns”. Fair?
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In the news: Varsity Football Multi-team Event - 08/14/2026 | Watch Live & On Dema… → How do you get to work from Clayton? → Is Clayton still affordable for young families? → What do families love about Clayton’s schools? →
Upcoming events
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The data Ordered by what stands out in Clayton. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
About half of working residents work right in Clayton 47% of Clayton’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Des Moines (6%), Albuquerque (3%) and Raton (2%). Half commute less than 4 miles.
47% work in town
Where working residents work In Clayton 47%
Des Moines 6%
Albuquerque 3%
Raton 2%
Texline 2%
4 mi
median commute distance
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Housing
A typical Clayton home is worth about $109K The typical Clayton home is worth about $109,000, down 13% in a year, 66% below the New Mexico typical home.
$109K Zillow home value
Typical home value Clayton $109K
New Mexico $318K
Schools
Clayton’s public schools outperform 69% of New Mexico districts The public schools Clayton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 69% of New Mexico’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
B+ School Grade
Health
Healthier than 32% of U.S. towns Clayton beats the New Mexico average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1.
C Health Grade
32 measures vs. New Mexico
What stands out Clayton NM Fewer adults seeing a dentist 54.9% 61.4%
Union County General Hospital
2.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
43rd
percentile among NM towns
Natural hazards
High risk, with drought at the top Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.
75 risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
75 High risk Lower Higher Drought Wildfire Inland flooding
Climate
Four seasons, hot summers Clayton has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 21°, and about 22 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
22″ snow a winter
Typical low → high °F Winter 22–50°
Spring 38–68°
Summer 59–88°
Fall 40–69°
Oct 17
typical first frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
Safety
Less crime per resident than 61% of U.S. towns Clayton reports less crime per resident than 61% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.
B Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents Clayton 0.8
New Mexico 6.5
U.S. 3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents Clayton 2.8
New Mexico 23.5
U.S. 15.5
61st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
90th
percentile among NM towns
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
7
property crimes reported in 2025
1901 · KetchumDecapitated · Wikimedia Commons
Clayton’s story
139 years in pictures
16 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 6 places on the National Register.
Explore the history →
Landmarks 6 places in Clayton on the National Register of Historic Places.
All landmarks → Famous people from Clayton 4 notable people were born in Clayton.
See all 4 →
Clayton is a town in and the county seat of Union County, New Mexico, United States. As of the 2020 census, Clayton had a population of 2,643. Clayton is home to the historic Luna Theater, a municipal airport, Clayton High School, and Herzstein Memorial Museum. Clayton Lake State Park is about 15 miles away.
From Wikipedia , licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Established 1887
Population 2,643
Area 4.7 sq mi
Elevation 5,056 ft
ZIP code 88415
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