Clay County, Missouri Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 6th-largest in Missouri

The population of Clay County, Missouri is 255,566 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 6th-largest county in Missouri. The median household income is $86,150, the median home value is $256,400, and the median age is 37.6.

The population of Clay County has grown 18.3% since 2010 (222,649 → 263,370), a +1.21% annualized rate.

Clay County within Missouri · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

255,566

Population

+1.21%

Annual growth

643

People / sq mi

$86,150

Median Income

$256,400

Median Home Value

Clay County covers 398 sq mi of land at 642.7 people per square mile.

About Clay County, MO

What distinguishes Clay County is density: among the most densely settled of US counties, around 643 people per square mile. Clay County is a county in Missouri with a population of 255,566. That makes it one of the ten largest counties in Missouri in the country, at #6 by population.

The typical household earns $86,150 a year, above the US median of $78,538. Poverty is relatively low for US counties at 5.8%, below the national 12.4%. Home values run above average at $256,400, with typical rent around $1,220.

About 36.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, near the 35.0% national figure. Remote work is on the higher side at 14.0%, close to the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 23 minutes each way.

That density explains much of the rest of the profile in Clay County: denser places lean toward renting, shorter commutes by transit, and a younger working-age mix.

Clay County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Clay County had a population of 222,649 in 2010 and 263,370 in 2024, a 18.3% growth over 14 years. The peak was 263,370 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 1.21%.

Clay County population, 2010–2024 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau — decennial census & Population Estimates

263,370

Population (2024)

222,649

Population (2010)

263,370

Peak (2024)

1.21%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	222,649	-	-	estimate
2011	225,271	+2,622	+1.18%	estimate
2012	227,636	+2,365	+1.05%	estimate
2013	230,401	+2,765	+1.21%	estimate
2014	233,142	+2,741	+1.19%	estimate
2015	235,344	+2,202	+0.94%	estimate
2016	238,837	+3,493	+1.48%	estimate
2017	242,780	+3,943	+1.65%	estimate
2018	246,798	+4,018	+1.65%	estimate
2019	250,522	+3,724	+1.51%	estimate
2020	254,145	+3,623	+1.45%	estimate
2021	255,908	+1,763	+0.69%	estimate
2022	257,037	+1,129	+0.44%	estimate
2023	260,150	+3,113	+1.21%	estimate
2024	263,370	+3,220	+1.24%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	80.1%
Black or African American	6.8%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.6%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

37.6

Median Age

50.6%

Female

49.4%

Male

14.9%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

6.1%

5–9

6.6%

10–14

6.9%

15–19

6.4%

20–24

5.7%

25–34

14.3%

35–44

14.3%

45–54

12.7%

55–59

5.9%

60–64

6.3%

65–74

9.0%

75–84

4.4%

85+

1.5%

Children (under 15): 19.6% · Seniors (65+): 14.9%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$86,150+$17,230 vs state
Mean household income	$105,515
Per-capita income	$42,336
Poverty rate	5.8%-2.6% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.7%
Employment-to-population	66.6%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

20.8%

Finance & real estate

11.9%

Manufacturing

11.5%

Information

8.6%

Retail trade

7.8%

Education & health care

7.3%

Construction

5.8%

Public administration

5.3%

The largest employment sector in Clay County is professional & business services, accounting for 20.8% of workers.

How residents commute

0.2%

Drive alone

0.8%

Carpool

76.3%

Public transit

14.0%

Work from home

23.2 min

Avg commute

Housing

$256,400+$40,800 vs state

Median home value

$1,220

Median rent

68.9%

Homeownership rate

106,689

Total housing units

94.7%

Occupied

5.3%

Vacant

31.1%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

92.7%

With health insurance

96.1%

With broadband internet

35.7%

Foreign-born

7.4%

Veterans (18+)

12.6%

With a disability

92.5%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

94.4%

High School+

36.0%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Missouri

Kansas City (508,233)St. Louis (293,109)Springfield (169,432)Columbia (127,200)Independence (121,944)Lee's Summit (102,583)O'Fallon (92,697)St. Joseph (71,542)St. Charles (71,048)Blue Springs (59,416)All Missouri cities →

Other counties in Missouri

St. Louis County (996,618)Jackson County (717,021)St. Charles County (409,830)Greene County (301,121)St. Louis city (293,109)Jefferson County (228,227)Boone County (185,874)Jasper County (123,532)Cass County (109,393)Platte County (108,751)All Missouri counties →

Part of Missouri

Missouri demographic profile All Missouri data →

Metro areas in Missouri

St. Louis (2,809,414)Kansas City (2,202,006)Springfield (481,671)Columbia (212,850)Joplin (202,258)Jefferson City (150,147)St. Joseph (120,609)Cape Girardeau (97,813)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Clay County, Missouri has a population of 255,566 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 6th-largest county in Missouri. Population density is 643 people per square mile.

The population of Clay County has grown 18.3% since 2010 (222,649 → 263,370), a +1.21% annualized rate.

The median household income in Clay County, Missouri is $86,150, with mean (average) household income of $105,515 and per-capita income of $42,336. 5.8% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Clay County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (80.1%), Black or African American (6.8%), Hispanic or Latino (1.6%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Clay County, Missouri is 37.6 years. Residents are 50.6% female and 49.4% male.

The median home value in Clay County is $256,400 and median monthly rent is $1,220. 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 106,689 total housing units, 5.3% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Clay County, Missouri is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 20.8% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

Kansas City is among the largest cities associated with Clay County, Missouri, with a population of 508,233.