What are the schools like in Clay Center, NE?

School district data for Clay Center is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Clay Center?

The median household income in Clay Center, NE is $72,083 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.2%.

What is the weather like in Clay Center, NE?

Clay Center has an average high temperature of 35.4°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 29.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 18.5 inches.

Clay Center, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Clay Center, NE affordable or expensive?

Clay Center's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clay Center is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $119,500 and the median rent is $610 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Clay Center, NE?

Crime rate data for Clay Center is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Clay Center, NE a Good Place to Live?

Clay Center is a small town of 780 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $72,083 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Clay Center stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Clay Center is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clay Center 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: 87.2

Clay Center's overall cost of living index is 87.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clay Center costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clay Center, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$119,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$610	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	83.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$72,083	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Clay Center is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Metric	Clay Center, NE	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clay Center sees average highs of 35.4°F in January and 87.2°F in July, with 29.8 inches of annual precipitation and 18.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clay Center, NE
Average High — January	35.4°F
Average High — July	87.2°F
Annual Precipitation	29.8"
Annual Snowfall	18.5"

Demographics

Metric	Clay Center, NE	National Avg
Population	780	—
Median Age	40.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	25.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Harvard, NE 7 mi Fairfield, NE 7 mi Saronville, NE 8 mi Inland, NE 10 mi Glenvil, NE 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Clay Center

Clay Center, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68933

Clay Center vs Other Cities

Clay Center, NE vs Harvard, NE Clay Center, NE vs Fairfield, NE Clay Center, NE vs Saronville, NE Clay Center, NE vs Inland, NE Clay Center, NE vs Glenvil, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clay Center, NE affordable or expensive?

Clay Center's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clay Center roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $119,500 and median rent is $610/month.

What is the crime rate in Clay Center, NE?

Crime data for Clay Center is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Clay Center?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Clay Center, NE a good place to live?

Clay Center, NE has a population of 780, a median household income of $72,083, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%. 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.

What is the weather like in Clay Center?

Clay Center averages 35.4°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 29.8 inches with about 18.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clay Center?

Clay Center, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68933.

What is the population of Clay Center?

The population of Clay Center, Nebraska is 780 with a median age of 40.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clay Center?

Key numbers for living in Clay Center: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $119,500, median household income $72,083. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clay Center side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.