Clayton is a small city of 26,837 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $71,698
and a 1.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is
2% below the national average.
Strengths:
Clayton stands out for lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. 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: 98.0
Clayton's overall cost of living index is 98.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Clayton costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
Metric
Clayton, NC
National Avg
Median Home Value
$260,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,356
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
66.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$71,698
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Clayton's violent crime rate is 168.3 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
168.3 /100k
Property Crime
1282.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Clayton is served primarily by Johnston Charter Academy.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Clayton, NC
National Avg
School District
Johnston Charter Academy
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Clayton sees average highs of 52.0°F in January
and 89.0°F in July,
with 52.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 3.2 inches of snow per year.
Clayton's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Clayton roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $260,400 and median rent is $1,356/month.
Clayton's violent crime rate is 168.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1282.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Clayton are operated by Johnston Charter Academy.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.5:1. 32.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Clayton, NC has a population of 26,837, a median household income of $71,698, and an unemployment rate of 1.8%.
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 52.0°F in January and 89.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.1 inches
with about 3.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Clayton, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27520.
The population of Clayton, North Carolina is 26,837 with a median age of 32.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Clayton: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $260,400, median household income $71,698, crime index 51 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.
