Clay County, Alabama: commercial real estate data.
Clay County, Alabama had an estimated 14,239 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,235, across 604 square miles. County output reached $576.7 m in 2024, 192 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 8 7(a) approvals worth $14.6 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Clay County
How many people live in Clay County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,192
- Households5,820
- Average household size2.44
- Median household income$55,250
- Median age44.7
- Median gross rent$619 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$156,700
- Home value to household income2.8 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher14.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over10,235
- Population under 182,974
- Share under 1821.0 percent
- Population 65 and over2,918
- Share 65 and over20.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 648,300
- Civilian labor force5,409
- Unemployment rate2.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over48.2 percent
- Rank by population among Alabama counties56th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2210th of 3,222
Clay County is the 56th largest of 67 Alabama counties by population. A median home costs 2.8 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.0 percent against 20.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Clay County
Is Clay County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202414,239
- Census 2020 base population14,235
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.03 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202482
- Births, 2024163
- Deaths, 2024210
- Natural change, 2024-47
- Net domestic migration, 2024122
- Net international migration, 20248
- Total net migration, 2024130
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024294
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1813th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.03 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Clay County
Where are people moving to Clay County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving274
- People arriving, from those returns539
- Tax returns filed by households leaving287
- Net household movement-13
- Adjusted gross income arriving$13.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$1.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$47,485
- Average income of a leaving household$39,564
- Largest single originTalladega County (51 households)
- Largest single destinationCalhoun County (51 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega County | 51 | 106 | $2.1 m |
| Randolph County | 30 | 69 | $1.4 m |
| Tallapoosa County | 26 | 46 | $716,000 |
| Calhoun County | 21 | 35 | $618,000 |
Households arriving report $7,921 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Talladega County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Clay County
What is the Clay County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$576.7 m
- County GDP, 2023$541.9 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.4 percent
- GDP change over five years26.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Alabama areas BEA publishes54th of 67
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2307th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$40,638
Output grew 6.4 percent in the latest year and 26.0 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Clay County
Employment by industry in Clay County
- Covered employment, annual average4,241
- Establishments reporting254
- Average annual pay$44,540
- Average weekly wage$857
- Manufacturing, employment2,147
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$49,054
- Retail trade, employment284
- Retail trade, average annual pay$20,509
- Wholesale trade, employment86
- Wholesale trade, average annual pay$59,905
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, employment61
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, average annual pay$44,871
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment51
- Other services, except public administration, employment40
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 2,147 | 16 | $49,054 |
| Retail trade | 284 | 40 | $20,509 |
| Wholesale trade | 86 | 10 | $59,905 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 61 | 16 | $44,871 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 51 | 15 | $48,029 |
| Other services, except public administration | 40 | 14 | $30,806 |
| Construction | 36 | 15 | $52,725 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,147 jobs, 50.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Clay County
How many businesses are in Clay County?
- Establishments, all industries192
- Employment at those establishments3,666
- Annual payroll$148.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents13.5
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Clay County
Building permits in Clay County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20249
- Declared construction value permitted$1.0 m
- Single family units authorized9
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$112,818
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.5
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Clay County
SBA loans in Clay County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded8
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$14.6 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,827,250
- Median 7(a) approval$1,943,500
- Largest single approval$3,562,600
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)22
- Jobs per approval2.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active3
- Distinct industries receiving approvals3
- Median 7(a) term252 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer75.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter2
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countBroilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production (5)
- Most active lenderLive Oak Banking Company (5)
- 504 approvals recorded2
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.4 m
- Average 504 approval$2,180,500
- Median 504 approval$2,180,500
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval36.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.7
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$19.0 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clay County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Clay County
Do SBA loans in Clay County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded1
- Paid in full0
- Charged off1
- Status: Exempt from disclosure7
- Status: Charged off1
Only 1 loan has reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clay County
SBA lending by place in Clay County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Ashland, approvals5
- Delta, approvals2
- Cragford, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ashland | 5 | $13,292,000 |
| Delta | 2 | $403,000 |
| Cragford | 1 | $923,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clay County
How large is Clay County?
- Land area604 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Alabama counties53rd of 67
- Width, east to west30.7 mi
- Height, north to south28.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land23
- Establishments per square mile0.32
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Clay County
Flood risk in Clay County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Clay County, unincorporated areasNot participating, community 010317
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate66.7 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Clay County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Clay County (community 010317), does not participate in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Clay County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 66.7 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Clay County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Clay County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202414,192
- Households5,820
- Average household size2.44
- Median household income$55,250
- Median age44.7
Common questions
Clay County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Clay County, Alabama?
The Census Bureau estimates 14,239 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 14,192, in 5,820 households, ranking 56th of 67 Alabama counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Clay County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.03 percent since the 2020 census base of 14,235, to 14,239 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 163 births against 210 deaths, with net migration of 130. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Clay County?
$55,250. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,700, which is 2.8 times income, and median gross rent is $619 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Clay County?
192 establishments, employing 3,666 people with an annual payroll of $148.7 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Clay County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 2,147 jobs, 50.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,241 jobs at an average annual pay of $44,540, or $857 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Clay County?
8 7(a) approvals totaling $14.6 m since FY2020, across 3 lenders, with a median approval of $1,943,500, plus 2 504 approvals worth $4.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Clay County?
9 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.0 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Clay County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Clay County come from?
The largest single origin is Talladega County, with 51 households. Arriving households report an average income of $47,485 against $39,564 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Clay County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Clay County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Clay County
Cities and places in Clay.
5 Census places lie wholly or partly in Clay County. All 5 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lineville | city | 2,546 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ashland | town | 1,797 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Hollins | CDP | 465 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Millerville | CDP | 447 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Delta | CDP | 225 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 8 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Clay County, the largest being Cragford (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby