Below Average CostNear National AverageRabun County
Aerial of downtown Clayton, Georgia, in Rabun County 05 · Harrison Keely / CC BY 4.0Clayton, Georgia, is a city in Rabun County in the Blue Ridge Mountains 01 · Harrison Keely / CC BY 4.0
Clayton is a small town of 2,277 in Georgia, with a median household income of $56,369
and a 5.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 94.3
Clayton's overall cost of living index is 94.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clayton costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clayton, GA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$196,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$793
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,369
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Clayton's violent crime rate is 335.6 per 100,000 residents
— 12% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
335.6 /100k
Property Crime
2828.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clayton is served primarily by Rabun County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clayton, GA
National Avg
School District
Rabun County
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
85.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clayton sees average highs of 50.2°F in January
and 85.4°F in July,
with 71.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 2.4 inches of snow per year.
Clayton's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clayton roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $196,200 and median rent is $793/month.
Clayton's violent crime rate is 335.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2828.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clayton are operated by Rabun County.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 22.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clayton, GA has a population of 2,277, a median household income of $56,369, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%.
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.
Clayton averages 50.2°F in January and 85.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 71.7 inches
with about 2.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clayton, GA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 30525.
The population of Clayton, Georgia is 2,277 with a median age of 39.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clayton: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $196,200, median household income $56,369, crime index 107 (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.
