What are the schools like in Clayton, MO?

Clayton is served primarily by CLAYTON. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.8:1.

What is the median household income in Clayton?

The median household income in Clayton, MO is $125,829 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 Clayton, MO?

Clayton has an average high temperature of 40.6°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 43.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 16.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Clayton, MO affordable or expensive?

Clayton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clayton is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $812,800 and the median rent is $1,570 per month.

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

Clayton has a violent crime rate of 102.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 794.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clayton, MO a Good Place to Live?

Clayton is a small city of 17,212 in Missouri, with a median household income of $125,829 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Clayton stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. 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: 96.3

Clayton's overall cost of living index is 96.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clayton costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clayton, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$812,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,570	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$125,829	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Clayton's violent crime rate is 102.9 per 100,000 residents — 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

102.9 /100k

Property Crime

794.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clayton is served primarily by CLAYTON. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clayton, MO	National Avg
School District	CLAYTON	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	80.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clayton sees average highs of 40.6°F in January and 89.6°F in July, with 43.9 inches of annual precipitation and 16.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clayton, MO
Average High — January	40.6°F
Average High — July	89.6°F
Annual Precipitation	43.9"
Annual Snowfall	16.6"

Demographics

Metric	Clayton, MO	National Avg
Population	17,212	—
Median Age	27.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.4%	18.9%
Asian	10.5%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	13.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Richmond Heights, MO 1 mi University City, MO 1 mi Brentwood, MO 2 mi Maplewood, MO 2 mi Pagedale, MO 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Clayton

Clayton, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

63105

Clayton vs Other Cities

Clayton, MO vs Richmond Heights, MO Clayton, MO vs University City, MO Clayton, MO vs Brentwood, MO Clayton, MO vs Maplewood, MO Clayton, MO vs Pagedale, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clayton, MO affordable or expensive?

Clayton's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clayton roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $812,800 and median rent is $1,570/month.

What is the crime rate in Clayton, MO?

Clayton's violent crime rate is 102.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 794.2 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 CLAYTON. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.8:1. 80.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clayton, MO a good place to live?

Clayton, MO has a population of 17,212, a median household income of $125,829, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. 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 40.6°F in January and 89.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 43.9 inches with about 16.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clayton?

Clayton, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 63105.

What is the population of Clayton?

The population of Clayton, Missouri is 17,212 with a median age of 27.6. 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 96 (100 = US average), median home $812,800, median household income $125,829, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. 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.