What are the schools like in Clay, AL?

Clay is served primarily by Jefferson County. The district operates 30 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 13 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.4:1.

What is the median household income in Clay?

The median household income in Clay, AL is $74,198 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Clay, AL?

Clay has an average high temperature of 53.5°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.2 inches.

Clay, AL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Clay, AL affordable or expensive?

Clay's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clay is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $181,200 and the median rent is $918 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Clay, AL?

Clay has a violent crime rate of 635.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2558.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clay, AL a Good Place to Live?

Clay is a small city of 10,315 in Alabama, with a median household income of $74,198 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Clay stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Clay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clay city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.6

Clay's overall cost of living index is 92.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clay costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clay, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$181,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$918	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	93.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,198	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Clay's violent crime rate is 635.9 per 100,000 residents — 67% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

635.9 /100k

Property Crime

2558.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Clay is served primarily by Jefferson County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clay, AL	National Avg
School District	Jefferson County	—
Elementary Schools	30	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	13	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clay sees average highs of 53.5°F in January and 90.2°F in July, with 59.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Clay, AL
Average High — January	53.5°F
Average High — July	90.2°F
Annual Precipitation	59.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Clay, AL	National Avg
Population	10,315	—
Median Age	40.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	52.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	44.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	25.8%	22.2%
65 and over	21.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pinson, AL 3 mi Trussville, AL 4 mi Grayson Valley, AL 4 mi Center Point, AL 6 mi Argo, AL 6 mi

Clay vs Other Cities

Clay, AL vs Pinson, AL Clay, AL vs Trussville, AL Clay, AL vs Grayson Valley, AL Clay, AL vs Center Point, AL Clay, AL vs Argo, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clay, AL affordable or expensive?

Clay's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clay roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $181,200 and median rent is $918/month.

What is the crime rate in Clay, AL?

Clay's violent crime rate is 635.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2558.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clay?

Public schools in Clay are operated by Jefferson County. The district has 30 elementary, 11 middle, and 13 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 20.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clay, AL a good place to live?

Clay, AL has a population of 10,315, a median household income of $74,198, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Clay?

Clay averages 53.5°F in January and 90.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Clay?

The population of Clay, Alabama is 10,315 with a median age of 40.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clay?

Key numbers for living in Clay: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $181,200, median household income $74,198, crime index 149 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.