Clay City is a small town of 883 in Illinois, with a median household income of $51,583
and a 6.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clay City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clay City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Clay City 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: 87.6
Clay City's overall cost of living index is 87.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clay City costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clay City, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$79,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$573
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,583
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clay City's violent crime rate is 68.3 per 100,000 residents
— 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
68.3 /100k
Property Crime
288.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clay City is served primarily by Clay City CUSD 10.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clay City, IL
National Avg
School District
Clay City CUSD 10
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clay City sees average highs of 38.8°F in January
and 89.0°F in July,
with 46.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.6 inches of snow per year.
Clay City's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clay City roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $79,200 and median rent is $573/month.
Clay City's violent crime rate is 68.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 288.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clay City are operated by Clay City CUSD 10.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.2:1. 10.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clay City, IL has a population of 883, a median household income of $51,583, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%.
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.
Clay City averages 38.8°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.7 inches
with about 10.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clay City, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62824.
The population of Clay City, Illinois is 883 with a median age of 34.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clay City: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $79,200, median household income $51,583, crime index 16 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clay City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.