Arkansas · GEOID 05021

Clay County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 14,280 · 7,492 housing units

Median household income

$51,481

State $61,888

Median home value

$94,600

State $192,777

Median gross rent

$707

State $955

Homeownership rate

74.7%

State 66.4%

Renter cost-burden rate

39.8%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

15.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

0.0%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

19.6%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

1.84

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Clay County	Arkansas
Population	14,280	3,049,391
Population density (per sq. mi.)	22.34	—
Median household income	$51,481	$61,888
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$64,100	—
Households	6,021	—
Average household size	2.35 people	—
Owner-occupied	74.7%	66.4%
Renter-occupied	25.3%	33.6%
Race	93.5% White · 0.1% 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 Arkansas.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

15.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 25.7%).

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	21.9%	$32,313	$808	$89,260
1 earner	35.1%	$48,341	$1,209	$148,922
2 earners	33.6%	$97,994	$2,450	$333,747
3+ earners	9.4%	$115,145	$2,879	$397,589

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

6,021

Average size: 2.35 people

Households with children

1,619

26.9% of households

Per-capita income

$27,594

Poverty rate: 15.1%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

74.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.4%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 81.9% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 5.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

65.2% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,973.00 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: $94,600.

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: $707.

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 1,471 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 5.7% · For rent 0.0% · Seasonal 6.1% · Other 72.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

21.1% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 78.9% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

1.2%

90 units of 7,492 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

14.3%

1,070 units of 7,492 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$41,185

100% MHI$51,481

120% MHI$61,777

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	$39,850	$45,550	$56,900
100% AMI	$44,870	$51,280	$64,100
120% AMI	$53,850	$61,550	$76,900

HUD FMR Area: Clay County, AR. 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

39.8% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (16.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

15.2% 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

2,405

Across 13 sectors

Establishments

241

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$42,185

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 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	714	$45,899	$139,832	+$45,232	$1,147
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	360	$35,243	$100,167	+$5,567	$881
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	348	$42,436	$126,942	+$32,342	$1,061
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	247	$49,584	$153,549	+$58,949	$1,240
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	240	$31,296	$85,475	−$9,125	$782
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	148	$36,388	$104,429	+$9,829	$910
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	94	$51,128	$159,296	+$64,696	$1,278
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	80	$58,222	$185,703	+$91,103	$1,456
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	56	$38,516	$112,350	+$17,750	$963
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	42	$48,900	$151,003	+$56,403	$1,223
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	41	$22,236	$51,750	−$42,850	$556
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	32	$43,908	$132,421	+$37,821	$1,098
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	3	$30,895	$83,982	−$10,618	$772

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	348	$42,436	$126,942	+$32,342	$1,061
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	243	$50,118	$155,537	+$60,937	$1,253
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	205	$26,853	$68,936	−$25,664	$671
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	194	$60,858	$195,515	+$100,915	$1,521
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	177	$40,108	$118,276	+$23,676	$1,003
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	174	$34,072	$95,808	+$1,208	$852
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	172	$16,882	$31,821	−$62,779	$422
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	163	$35,986	$102,933	+$8,333	$900
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	104	$27,484	$71,285	−$23,315	$687
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	102	$40,275	$118,898	+$24,298	$1,007
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	92	$44,041	$132,916	+$38,316	$1,101
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	62	$24,896	$61,652	−$32,948	$622
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	61	$64,896	$210,545	+$115,945	$1,622
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	61	$62,712	$202,416	+$107,816	$1,568
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	56	$38,516	$112,350	+$17,750	$963
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	46	$48,082	$147,958	+$53,358	$1,202
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	42	$48,900	$151,003	+$56,403	$1,223
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	39	$41,050	$121,783	+$27,183	$1,026
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	32	$43,908	$132,421	+$37,821	$1,098
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	29	$43,617	$131,338	+$36,738	$1,090
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	27	$44,722	$135,451	+$40,851	$1,118
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	27	$32,844	$91,237	−$3,363	$821
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	24	$55,215	$174,509	+$79,909	$1,380
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	22	$52,697	$165,137	+$70,537	$1,317
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	19	$46,239	$141,098	+$46,498	$1,156
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	19	$36,795	$105,944	+$11,344	$920
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	10	$54,775	$172,872	+$78,272	$1,369
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	9	$34,132	$96,031	+$1,431	$853
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	7	$62,603	$202,010	+$107,410	$1,565
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	6	$15,636	$27,183	−$67,417	$391
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	5	$57,790	$184,094	+$89,494	$1,445
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	3	$30,895	$83,982	−$10,618	$772
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	1	$119,611	$414,213	+$319,613	$2,990

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	1,830	120	7%	$12.29	$25,550	$64,086	$639
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	710	(390)	(35%)	$12.55	$26,110	$66,171	$653
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,850	(720)	(28%)	$12.95	$26,940	$69,260	$674
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	390	—	—	$13.10	$27,250	$70,414	$681
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	950	(100)	(10%)	$15.29	$31,790	$87,314	$795
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,080	(890)	(45%)	$15.49	$32,210	$88,877	$805
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,430	(250)	(15%)	$15.56	$32,350	$89,398	$809
Tellers SOC 43-3071	330	(140)	(30%)	$16.39	$34,080	$95,838	$852
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,590	0	0%	$18.09	$37,630	$109,052	$941
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	170	40	31%	$18.61	$38,710	$113,072	$968
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	540	240	80%	$18.97	$39,470	$115,901	$987
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	430	70	19%	$20.15	$41,910	$124,984	$1,048
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	710	(300)	(30%)	$20.34	$42,300	$126,435	$1,058
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,210	60	5%	$22.09	$45,940	$139,985	$1,149
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	150	—	—	$23.54	$48,960	$151,226	$1,224
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	320	140	78%	$24.62	$51,210	$159,601	$1,280
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	930	(70)	(7%)	—	$52,550	$164,589	$1,314
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	90	(150)	(63%)	$25.39	$52,800	$165,520	$1,320
Electricians SOC 47-2111	780	430	123%	$25.82	$53,700	$168,870	$1,343
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,040	180	21%	$35.20	$73,220	$241,530	$1,831

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: 05021 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.