What are the schools like in Clayton, AL?

Clayton is served primarily by Barbour County. The district operates 2 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.7:1.

What is the median household income in Clayton?

The median household income in Clayton, AL is $30,938 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.7%.

What is the weather like in Clayton, AL?

Clayton has an average high temperature of 58.3°F in January and 91.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Clayton, AL affordable or expensive?

Clayton's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clayton is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $91,200 and the median rent is $701 per month.

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

Clayton has a violent crime rate of 409.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 910.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clayton, AL a Good Place to Live?

Clayton is a small town of 2,230 in Alabama, with a median household income of $30,938 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Clayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Clayton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clayton 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: 87.1

Clayton's overall cost of living index is 87.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clayton costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clayton, AL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$91,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$701	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$30,938	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Clayton's violent crime rate is 409.6 per 100,000 residents — 8% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

409.6 /100k

Property Crime

910.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clayton is served primarily by Barbour County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clayton, AL	National Avg
School District	Barbour County	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	3.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	66.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clayton sees average highs of 58.3°F in January and 91.3°F in July, with 55.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clayton, AL
Average High — January	58.3°F
Average High — July	91.3°F
Annual Precipitation	55.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Clayton, AL	National Avg
Population	2,230	—
Median Age	42.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	34.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	61.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	6.1%	22.2%
65 and over	13.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Louisville, AL 9 mi Bakerhill, AL 12 mi Midway, AL 14 mi Clio, AL 15 mi Blue Springs, AL 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Clayton

Clayton, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

36016

Clayton vs Other Cities

Clayton, AL vs Louisville, AL Clayton, AL vs Bakerhill, AL Clayton, AL vs Midway, AL Clayton, AL vs Clio, AL Clayton, AL vs Blue Springs, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clayton, AL affordable or expensive?

Clayton's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clayton roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $91,200 and median rent is $701/month.

What is the crime rate in Clayton, AL?

Clayton's violent crime rate is 409.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 910.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clayton?

Public schools in Clayton are operated by Barbour County. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 3.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clayton, AL a good place to live?

Clayton, AL has a population of 2,230, a median household income of $30,938, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. 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 Clayton?

Clayton averages 58.3°F in January and 91.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.6 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clayton?

Clayton, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36016.

What is the population of Clayton?

The population of Clayton, Alabama is 2,230 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clayton?

Key numbers for living in Clayton: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $91,200, median household income $30,938, crime index 82 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clayton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.