Alabama · GEOID 01027

Clay County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 14,192 · 7,106 housing units

Median household income

$55,250

State $65,481

Median home value

$156,700

State $213,194

Median gross rent

$619

State $1,018

Homeownership rate

79.4%

State 70.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

40.7%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

18.2%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

18.1%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.84

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Clay County	Alabama
Population	14,192	5,086,768
Population density (per sq. mi.)	23.50	—
Median household income	$55,250	$65,481
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$74,200	—
Households	5,820	—
Average household size	2.40 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.4%	70.2%
Renter-occupied	20.6%	29.8%
Race	80.0% White · 12.8% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Clay County compared with Alabama.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

14.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 28.4%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	25.8%	$37,276	$932	$107,734
1 earner	40.7%	$66,607	$1,665	$216,914
2 earners	30.6%	$106,591	$2,665	$365,748
3+ earners	2.9%	$116,630	$2,916	$403,117

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

5,820

Average size: 2.40 people

Households with children

1,447

24.9% of households

Per-capita income

$28,812

Poverty rate: 17.0%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

79.4% owner-occupied vs. state average 70.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 67.5% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 10.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

42.0% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,984.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $156,700.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $619.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,286 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 2.1% · For rent 20.7% · Seasonal 12.8% · Other 61.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

25.7% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 74.3% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.3%

165 units of 7,106 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

11.1%

790 units of 7,106 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$44,200

100% MHI$55,250

120% MHI$66,300

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Clay County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$41,550	$47,500	$59,350
100% AMI	$51,940	$59,360	$74,200
120% AMI	$62,350	$71,250	$89,050

HUD FMR Area: Clay County, AL. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

40.7% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (9.2% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.6% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Clay County.

Covered employment

3,007

Across 11 sectors

Establishments

168

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$45,741

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	2,147	$49,056	$151,584	−$5,116	$1,226
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	285	$20,579	$45,583	−$111,117	$514
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	221	$42,244	$126,227	−$30,473	$1,056
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	86	$59,847	$191,751	+$35,051	$1,496
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	61	$44,626	$135,094	−$21,606	$1,116
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	51	$48,343	$148,930	−$7,770	$1,209
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	50	$38,277	$111,460	−$45,240	$957
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	40	$30,614	$82,936	−$73,764	$765
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	36	$53,214	$167,061	+$10,361	$1,330
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	26	$52,941	$166,045	+$9,345	$1,324
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	4	$63,454	$205,178	+$48,478	$1,586

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	105	$15,057	$25,028	−$131,672	$376
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	78	$47,112	$144,347	−$12,353	$1,178
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	57	$21,283	$48,203	−$108,497	$532
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	51	$48,343	$148,930	−$7,770	$1,209
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	50	$38,277	$111,460	−$45,240	$957
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	45	$27,650	$71,903	−$84,797	$691
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	32	$48,341	$148,922	−$7,778	$1,209
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	26	$52,941	$166,045	+$9,345	$1,324
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	24	$40,476	$119,646	−$37,054	$1,012
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	21	$55,762	$176,546	+$19,846	$1,394
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	18	$41,039	$121,742	−$34,958	$1,026
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	16	$49,269	$152,376	−$4,324	$1,232
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	14	$81,552	$272,545	+$115,845	$2,039
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	14	$26,338	$67,019	−$89,681	$658
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	4	$63,454	$205,178	+$48,478	$1,586
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	4	$59,161	$189,198	+$32,498	$1,479

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,740	(630)	(19%)	$11.49	$23,900	$57,944	$598
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,530	(280)	(15%)	$12.17	$25,310	$63,193	$633
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,900	(1,900)	(33%)	$12.59	$26,190	$66,469	$655
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	520	(240)	(32%)	$13.12	$27,300	$70,600	$683
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	820	(1,370)	(63%)	$14.43	$30,010	$80,688	$750
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,620	(220)	(12%)	$14.46	$30,080	$80,948	$752
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	3,980	320	9%	$15.41	$32,050	$88,281	$801
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	2,510	(20)	(1%)	$15.68	$32,610	$90,366	$815
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,050	650	163%	$16.55	$34,420	$97,103	$861
Tellers SOC 43-3071	500	(270)	(35%)	$17.26	$35,890	$102,575	$897
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	330	140	74%	$19.40	$40,350	$119,177	$1,009
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,470	250	20%	$21.48	$44,680	$135,295	$1,117
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	950	240	34%	$21.54	$44,810	$135,779	$1,120
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	370	0	0%	$21.77	$45,280	$137,528	$1,132
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	210	(430)	(67%)	$23.58	$49,050	$151,561	$1,226
Electricians SOC 47-2111	480	60	14%	$25.61	$53,260	$167,232	$1,332
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	3,050	60	2%	$26.09	$54,280	$171,029	$1,357
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	350	30	9%	$26.63	$55,390	$175,161	$1,385
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	2,520	150	6%	$34.17	$71,070	$233,527	$1,777

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 01027 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.