What are the schools like in Clayton, NJ?

Clayton is served primarily by Clayton Public School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.0:1.

What is the median household income in Clayton?

The median household income in Clayton, NJ is $91,711 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.2%.

What is the weather like in Clayton, NJ?

Clayton has an average high temperature of 41.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 13.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Clayton, NJ affordable or expensive?

Clayton's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clayton is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $233,000 and the median rent is $1,180 per month.

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

Clayton has a violent crime rate of 141.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 750.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clayton, NJ a Good Place to Live?

Clayton is a small town of 8,801 in New Jersey, with a median household income of $91,711 and a 8.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Clayton stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 103.5

Clayton's overall cost of living index is 103.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clayton costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Clayton, NJ	National Avg
Median Home Value	$233,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,180	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,711	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Clayton's violent crime rate is 141.4 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

141.4 /100k

Property Crime

750.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clayton is served primarily by Clayton Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clayton, NJ	National Avg
School District	Clayton Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clayton sees average highs of 41.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 51.5 inches of annual precipitation and 13.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clayton, NJ
Average High — January	41.3°F
Average High — July	86.8°F
Annual Precipitation	51.5"
Annual Snowfall	13.3"

Demographics

Metric	Clayton, NJ	National Avg
Population	8,801	—
Median Age	39.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	35.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	22.1%	22.2%
65 and over	20.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Glassboro, NJ 3 mi Franklinville, NJ 3 mi Pitman, NJ 6 mi Williamstown, NJ 6 mi Malaga, NJ 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Clayton

Clayton, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code:

08312

Clayton vs Other Cities

Clayton, NJ vs Glassboro, NJ Clayton, NJ vs Franklinville, NJ Clayton, NJ vs Pitman, NJ Clayton, NJ vs Williamstown, NJ Clayton, NJ vs Malaga, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clayton, NJ affordable or expensive?

Clayton's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Clayton roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $233,000 and median rent is $1,180/month.

What is the crime rate in Clayton, NJ?

Clayton's violent crime rate is 141.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 750.7 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 Public School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clayton, NJ a good place to live?

Clayton, NJ has a population of 8,801, a median household income of $91,711, and an unemployment rate of 8.2%. 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 41.3°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.5 inches with about 13.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clayton?

Clayton, NJ is covered by 1 ZIP code: 08312.

What is the population of Clayton?

The population of Clayton, New Jersey is 8,801 with a median age of 39.9. 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 104 (100 = US average), median home $233,000, median household income $91,711, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.