Clay City is a small town of 1,135 in Indiana, with a median household income of $56,250
and a 2.3% 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 (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. 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: 88.2
Clay City's overall cost of living index is 88.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clay City costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clay City, IN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$84,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$687
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
63.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clay City's violent crime rate is 202.1 per 100,000 residents
— 47% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
202.1 /100k
Property Crime
579.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clay City is served primarily by Clay Community Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clay City, IN
National Avg
School District
Clay Community Schools
—
Elementary Schools
7
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
83.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clay City sees average highs of 38.3°F in January
and 85.6°F in July,
with 47.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 14.7 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 $84,700 and median rent is $687/month.
Clay City's violent crime rate is 202.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 579.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clay City are operated by Clay Community Schools.
The district has 7 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.0:1. 14.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clay City, IN has a population of 1,135, a median household income of $56,250, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
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 38.3°F in January and 85.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.4 inches
with about 14.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clay City, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 47841.
The population of Clay City, Indiana is 1,135 with a median age of 34.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clay City: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $84,700, median household income $56,250, crime index 43 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
