Clay County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Clay County, Missouri had an estimated 263,370 residents on July 1, 2024, up 4.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 253,327, across 397 square miles. County output reached $17.31 bn in 2024, 5,654 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 264 7(a) approvals worth $115.3 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 2020-2024258,122
- Households102,171
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$88,468
- Median age37.9
- Median gross rent$1,243 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$275,600
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over177,160
- Population under 1860,745
- Share under 1823.5 percent
- Population 65 and over39,430
- Share 65 and over15.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64157,947
- Civilian labor force140,980
- Unemployment rate3.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over71.4 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties6th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included278th of 3,222
Clay County is the 6th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.5 percent against 15.3 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, 2024263,370
- Census 2020 base population253,327
- Population change since the 2020 census base3.96 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,220
- Births, 20243,043
- Deaths, 20242,077
- Natural change, 2024966
- Net domestic migration, 20241,300
- Net international migration, 2024947
- Total net migration, 20242,247
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20243,622
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents697th of 3,144
The county has grown 3.96 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
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 arriving9,068
- People arriving, from those returns15,868
- Tax returns filed by households leaving8,549
- Net household movement519
- Adjusted gross income arriving$562.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$20.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$62,064
- Average income of a leaving household$63,440
- Largest single originJackson County (2,423 households)
- Largest single destinationJackson County (2,042 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | 2,423 | 4,200 | $118.6 m |
| Platte County | 1,624 | 2,735 | $116.9 m |
| Johnson County | 543 | 820 | $37.0 m |
| Wyandotte County | 292 | 544 | $12.8 m |
| Ray County | 219 | 409 | $10.9 m |
| Clinton County | 194 | 351 | $11.3 m |
| Buchanan County | 127 | 215 | $6.1 m |
| Cass County | 116 | 205 | $6.2 m |
Households arriving report $1,376 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Jackson 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$17.31 bn
- County GDP, 2023$16.81 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20243.0 percent
- GDP change over five years29.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes6th of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes293rd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,060
Output grew 3.0 percent in the latest year and 29.9 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 average111,855
- Establishments reporting6,664
- Average annual pay$63,093
- Average weekly wage$1,213
- Manufacturing, employment16,391
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$88,565
- Retail trade, employment12,920
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,407
- Health care and social assistance, employment10,854
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$63,848
- Accommodation and food services, employment10,558
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,351
- Transportation and warehousing, employment8,269
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment6,472
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 16,391 | 246 | $88,565 |
| Retail trade | 12,920 | 636 | $38,407 |
| Health care and social assistance | 10,854 | 1,331 | $63,848 |
| Accommodation and food services | 10,558 | 502 | $26,351 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8,269 | 250 | $55,019 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,472 | 325 | $46,514 |
| Wholesale trade | 6,341 | 341 | $79,940 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 5,907 | 721 | $112,875 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 16,391 jobs, 14.7 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 industries5,654
- Employment at those establishments118,402
- Annual payroll$7.30 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents21.9
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, 2024356
- Declared construction value permitted$99.9 m
- Single family units authorized314
- Multifamily units authorized42
- Multifamily share of units11.8 percent
- Average declared value per unit$280,585
- Units authorized per 1,000 households3.5
Single-family homes are 88.2 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 recorded264
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$115.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$436,806
- Median 7(a) approval$180,400
- 10th percentile approval$34,300
- 90th percentile approval$931,340
- Largest single approval$4,692,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)2,646
- Jobs per approval10.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active78
- Distinct industries receiving approvals109
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer10.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms28
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter221
- Franchise loans68
- Franchise share of approvals25.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFitness and Recreational Sports Centers (14)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (30)
- 504 approvals recorded83
- 504 gross approval dollars$50.0 m
- Average 504 approval$602,723
- Median 504 approval$446,000
- Distinct CDCs active7
- 504 jobs per approval9.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.2
- Most active CDCHeartland Business Capital, Inc. (29)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$165.3 m
The average approval of $436,806 sits well above the median of $180,400, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 10.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
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 recorded53
- Paid in full52
- Charged off1
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans1.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure180
- Status: Paid in full52
- Status: Cancelled19
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed12
Of the 53 loans that have reached a final outcome, 1.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
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 lending12
- Kansas City, approvals167
- Liberty, approvals35
- Excelsior Springs, approvals18
- Kearney, approvals15
- Smithville, approvals12
- North Kansas City, approvals5
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 167 | $77,398,300 |
| Liberty | 35 | $15,105,800 |
| Excelsior Springs | 18 | $3,636,300 |
| Kearney | 15 | $5,084,700 |
| Smithville | 12 | $6,990,000 |
| North Kansas City | 5 | $2,247,000 |
| Gladstone | 4 | $2,556,100 |
| Pleasant Valley | 3 | $1,303,500 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 5 | $995,000 |
Kansas City accounts for 167 approvals against 35 in Liberty. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
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 area397 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties111th of 115
- Width, east to west21.3 mi
- Height, north to south23.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land650
- Establishments per square mile14.24
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 areasParticipating, community 290086
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book21
- Of those, participating in the NFIP21
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- 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 290086), participates 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. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 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 2020-2024258,122
- Households102,171
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$88,468
- Median age37.9
Common questions
Clay County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Clay County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 263,370 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 258,122, in 102,171 households, ranking 6th of 115 Missouri 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 3.96 percent since the 2020 census base of 253,327, to 263,370 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,043 births against 2,077 deaths, with net migration of 2,247. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Clay County?
$88,468. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $275,600, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,243 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Clay County?
5,654 establishments, employing 118,402 people with an annual payroll of $7.30 bn. 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 16,391 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 111,855 jobs at an average annual pay of $63,093, or $1,213 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?
264 7(a) approvals totaling $115.3 m since FY2020, across 78 lenders, with a median approval of $180,400, plus 83 504 approvals worth $50.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Clay County get paid back?
Of the 53 loans that have reached a final outcome, 52 were paid in full and 1 charged off, a charge-off rate of 1.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Clay County?
356 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $99.9 m. Multifamily was 11.8 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 Jackson County, with 2,423 households. Arriving households report an average income of $62,064 against $63,440 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.
25 Census places lie wholly or partly in Clay County. All 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | city | 510,612 | 167 | 28.4 percent here, 49.3 percent Jackson County, 22.0 percent Platte County |
| Liberty | city | 30,689 | 35 | Wholly in this county |
| Gladstone | city | 27,207 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Kearney | city | 10,885 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Smithville | city | 10,705 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Excelsior Springs | city | 10,484 | 18 | 90.2 percent here, 9.8 percent Ray County |
| North Kansas City | city | 4,983 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Sugar Creek | city | 3,249 | None recorded | 2.2 percent here, 97.8 percent Jackson County |
| Lawson | city | 2,905 | None recorded | 62.9 percent here, 37.1 percent Ray County |
| Pleasant Valley | city | 2,736 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Claycomo | village | 1,820 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Glenaire | city | 587 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Holt | city | 440 | 2 | 71.2 percent here, 28.8 percent Clinton County |
| Oakview | village | 377 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Avondale | city | 308 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Excelsior Estates | village | 239 | None recorded | 14.1 percent here, 85.9 percent Ray County |
| Missouri City | city | 215 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oakwood Park | village | 204 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Birmingham | village | 189 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Oaks | village | 156 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Oakwood | village | 142 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prathersville | village | 100 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Paradise | CDP | 72 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Mosby | city | 52 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Randolph | village | 31 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 264 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Clay County, the largest being N. Kansas City (1), Topeka (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