Clay City, KY

City in Powell County, KY, US

By Neilsberg Research

Last updated May 1, 2026

Key Indicators

A quick look at key numbers

Population

1,204

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates

Median Age

42.8

years ∙ half population younger than 42.8, half older

Diversity Index

16%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Nativity

foreign-born population

100%Native

0% Foreign-born

Geographic Context

Location, size, and surroundings

About

Clay City is a city within Powell County, Kentucky, United States.

Location

City in Powell County, KY, US

Co-ordinates

DEC37.860760° N, 83.929701° W

DMS37° 51′ 38.74″ N, 83° 55′ 46.92″ W

Population Density & area

1,136/sq mi (439.4/km²)

Total Area

1.12 sq mi (2.89 km²)

Land Area

1.06 sq mi (2.74 km²) · 94.7%

Water Area

0.06 sq mi (0.15 km²) · 5.3%

Demographics & Living

Who lives here, how households are formed, and community composition

Population Composition

Key characteristics of the population

Sex Distribution

45.2% male

Male 45.2%

Female 54.8%

males per 100 females

Clay City 82.4

Powell County 99.7

Kentucky 98.2

Nativity

foreign-born population

100%Native

0% Foreign-born

% Foreign-born

Clay City 0%

Powell County 0.7%

Kentucky 4.7%

Age Distribution

How the population is spread across age groups

Median Age

42.8

years ∙ half population younger than 42.8, half older

Clay City

42.8

Powell County

39.3

Kentucky

39.1

Dependency ratio

57.4

dependents per 100 working-age adults

Clay City 57.4

Powell County 69.4

Kentucky 66.4

AGE DISTRIBUTION

Distribution of age group

Median age

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Age Group
Children (Under 18)	23.2%	24.8%	22.6%
Working age (18-64)	63.5%	59%	60.1%
Senior (65+)	13.3%	16.2%	17.3%
Dependency ratio
Total dependency ratio	57.4	69.4	66.4
Child dependency ratio	36.5	42	37.6
Old-age dependency ratio	20.9	27.5	28.8

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Racial and ethnic makeup and how it compares

Race & Ethnicity

White

91.5%

Black

1.5%

Asian

Hispanic

2.2%

Other

4.8%

Note: White, Black, and Asian refer to individuals belonging to a single race and not of Hispanic origin. Hispanics may be of any race.

Diversity Index

16%

chance two random people differ in race and ethnicity

Clay City 16%

Powell County 12.3%

Kentucky 32.6%

Note: The Diversity Index (DI), based on the Blau Index, measures the probability that two randomly selected individuals differ in race and ethnicity. Values range from 0 (no diversity) to 1 (high diversity) and are shown as percentages.

RACIAL & ETHNIC COMPOSITION

Race & Ethnicity

Percentage of Clay City population

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	1.6%	5%
Mexican	0%	0.2%	2.5%
Puerto Rican	0%	1.1%	0.5%
Cuban	0%	0%	0.8%
Other Hispanic / Latino	2.2%	0.3%	1.3%
Not Hispanic or Latino	97.8%	98.4%	95%
One race	93.1%	96.5%	91.1%
White	91.5%	93.6%	81.5%
Black or African American	1.5%	2%	7.6%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0%	0.1%	0.1%
Asian	0%	0%	1.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	0%	0%	0.1%
Some Other Race	0%	0.7%	0.3%
Two or more races (Multiracial)	4.7%	1.9%	3.9%

Household & Families Composition

Household size, type, and family structure

Household structure

62.3% family

Family 62.3%

Non family 37.7%

% family households

Clay City 62.3%

Powell County 69.3%

Kentucky 63.9%

Average household size

2.27

persons per household

Clay City

2.27

Powell County

2.65

Kentucky

2.43

Household & Family COMPOSITION

Households

Percentage of Clay City population

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Total households	530	4,790	1,814,469
Average houshold size	2.27	2.65	2.43
Family households	330	3,321	1,159,005
Average family size	2.92	3.25	3.03
Married couple family	163	2,285	844,820
Other families	167	1,036	314,185
Male householder	40	402	95,673
Female householder	127	634	218,512
Non-family households	200	1,469	655,464
One-person households	186	1,297	540,419
Male householder	52	621	247,145
Senior (65+) living alone	8	274	79,059
Female householder	134	676	293,274
Senior (65+) living alone	30	342	151,346
Other living arrangements	14	172	115,045

Housing Profile

Housing stock, ownership, rentals, and cost burdens

Total housing units

610

housing units

Clay City 610

Powell County 5,647

Kentucky 2,023,116

Occupancy status

86.9% occupied

Occupied 86.9%

Vacant 13.1%

vacancy rate

Clay City 13.1%

Powell County 15.2%

Kentucky 10.3%

Housing Characteristics

How the housing supply is structured and used

Types of Housing unit

47.6%

Single family houses

47.6%

Apartments in multi-unit structures

21.9%

Mobile homes

30.5%

Boat, RV, van, etc

Median Year Built

1979

Half of houses were built before 1979, and half after.

Historic ∙ 1939 or earlier

1.3%

Postwar & mid-century ∙ 1940 - 1969

29.2%

Late 20th century ∙ 1970 - 1999

61.1%

Modern ∙ 2000 or later

8.4%

Note: Median year built reflects occupied units only; distribution includes all units.

Housing Characteristics

Units, rooms & bedrooms

Physical characteristics of housing units

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Rooms per unit
Median rooms	4.9	5.5	5.7
1–3 rooms	18.2%	14%	10.4%
4–6 rooms	65.1%	54.7%	54.2%
7+ rooms	16.7%	31.2%	35.4%
Bedrooms
No bedroom / studio	0%	1%	1.7%
1 bedroom	15.1%	10.6%	8.2%
2 bedrooms	28.7%	19.6%	25.1%
3 bedrooms	50.2%	56.2%	45.2%
4+ bedrooms	6%	12.6%	19.7%
At a glance
Median year built	1979	1988	1983
Total housing units	610	5,647	2,023,116

Occupancy Profile

Who is inside and how they use it

Homeownership

41.3% owners

Renter-occupied 58.7%

Owner-occupied 41.3%

homeownership rate

Clay City 41.3%

Powell County 68.2%

Kentucky 68.3%

Average household size

2.74

Owner-occupied

1.95

Renter-occupied

owner-occupied average size

Clay City 2.74

Powell County 2.79

Kentucky 2.53

Housing Characteristics

Occupied unit characteristics

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Total occupied units	530	4,790	1,814,469
Year moved in
2020 or later	27.2%	23%	23.8%
2010 to 2019	45.1%	35.9%	38.4%
2000 to 2009	9.2%	20%	16.7%
1999 or earlier	18.5%	21.1%	21.1%
Occupants per room
1.00 or fewer	98.7%	98.9%	98%
1.01 to 1.50	1.3%	1%	1.4%
1.51 or more	0%	0.1%	0.6%
Vehicles availability
No vehicles	17.7%	8.9%	6.8%
1 vehicle	44.9%	30.9%	32.4%
2 vehicles	17.5%	32.5%	37.1%
3 or more vehicles	19.8%	27.6%	23.7%
House heating fuel used
Gas	34.4%	33.6%	41.5%
Electricity	65.7%	56.8%	54.9%
Solar	0%	0.3%	0.1%
Fuel oil, kerosene etc	0%	1.7%	0.7%
All other fuels	0%	7.6%	2.3%
No fuel used	0%	0%	0.4%
Selected characteristics
Lacking complete plumbing	0%	1.9%	0.5%
Lacking complete kitchen	0%	1.5%	0.8%
No telephone service available	0%	2%	1.1%

Housing Value

What owner-occupied units are worth

Median home value

$63,500

owner-occupied units

Median value(USD)

Clay City

$63,500

Powell County

$141,100

Kentucky

$205,600

Housing Cost Burden

28.1%

of homeowners with a mortgage are cost-burdened

% Cost-Burdened Households

Owners with a mortgage

28.1%

Owners without a mortgage

49%

Renters

49.1%

Note: Households spending 30% or more of their income on housing costs are considered cost-burdened.

Financial characteristics

Property value and housing costs

Tenure, crowding, and utilities

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Property value
Median Value	$63,500	$141,100	$205,600
Under $100,000	61.1%	32.8%	20.9%
$100,000 - $200,000	33.3%	34.3%	27.6%
$200,000 - $300,000	2.3%	20.4%	23.1%
$300,000 - $500,000	3.2%	8.5%	20.1%
$500,000 - $1,000,000	0%	3.2%	7.1%
$1,000,000 and more	0%	0.9%	1.2%
Owner-occupied households
With a mortgage	29.2%	47.6%	56.1%
Without a mortgage	70.8%	52.4%	43.9%
Median monthly owner costs
With a mortgage	$1,114	$1,238	$1,433
Without a mortgage	$392	$381	$469
Gross rent
Median rent	$666	$747	$967

Education Profile

How educated is the community and how education pays off

Adults with a college degree

of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

Clay City 5%

Powell County 13.8%

Kentucky 27.6%

Adults without a high school diploma

35.5%

of adults (25+) without a high school diploma

Clay City 35.5%

Powell County 18%

Kentucky 11.1%

School Enrollment

Who is enrolled in school and at what level

School enrollment

201

population (age 3+) enrolled in school

Nursery / Preschool

9.5%

K–12

83.6%

College / Undergraduate

Graduate / Professional

College-going rate (18-24 yr olds)

15.9%

of 18-24-year-olds in college or graduate school

Clay City

15.9%

Powell County

14.7%

Kentucky

36%

Enrollment & school type

Enrollment levels, college-going rate, and public vs private school split

Population 3+ currently enrolled in a school

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Total enrolled (age 3+)	201	2,887	1,039,376
Nursery / preschool	9.5%	5.6%	5.5%
K–12	83.6%	81.6%	70.6%
Kindergarten	0%	5%	5.2%
Elementary: Grades 1–4	27.9%	19%	21.4%
Elementary: Grades 5–8	31.8%	30.5%	21.9%
High School: Grades 9–12	23.9%	27.1%	22.2%
College or graduate school	7%	12.8%	23.8%
College, undergraduate	7%	11.9%	18.9%
Graduate, professional school	0%	0.9%	5%
College-going rate · 18-24 yr olds	15.9%	14.7%	36%
School type
Public school	87.1%	92%	81.9%
Private school	12.9%	8%	18.1%

Education Attainment by Level & Gender

What is the highest level of education completed among adults

Education attainment

837

population 25 years and over

Total adults (25+)

Less than 9th grade

12.9%

9th-12th, no diploma

22.6%

HS graduate

39.5%

Some college no degree

15.3%

Associates degree

4.7%

Bachelors degree

2.3%

Graduate or professional degree

2.7%

Attainment by gender

Male vs Female

Adults (25+) · Share within each education level

% male · % female

Less than 9th grade

65.7% · 34.3%

9th-12th, no diploma

39.7% · 60.3%

HS graduate

41.7% · 58.3%

Some college no degree

34.4% · 65.6%

Associates degree

7.7% · 92.3%

Bachelors degree

26.3% · 73.7%

Graduate or professional degree

43.5% · 56.5%

Educational Attainment Overview

Distribution and key education attainment rates for adults (25+)

Highest credential completed · adults 25+

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Population (25+)	837	8,807	3,098,758
Less than 9th grade	12.9%	7.3%	4.3%
9th–12th, no diploma	22.6%	10.7%	6.8%
High school diploma or GED	39.5%	44.7%	32.6%
Some college, no degree	15.3%	16.9%	19.7%
Associate's degree	4.7%	6.6%	9%
Bachelor's degree or higher	5%	13.8%	27.6%
Bachelor's degree	2.3%	8.2%	16.2%
Graduate or professional	2.7%	5.6%	11.3%
High School or higher	64.5%	82%	88.9%

Earnings by education level

percentage as applicable

Median Earnings

$24,013

Median earnings for adults 25+, by level

Less than HS graduate

$—

HS graduate

$27,917

Some college or associates

$—

Bachelors degree

$—

Graduate or professional degree

$81,250

Poverty Rate

23.8%

for ages 25+, with bachelors degree or higher

Less than HS graduate

52.5%

HS graduate

23.3%

Some college or associates

46.1%

Bachelors degree or higher

23.8%

Outcomes by Education Level

Earnings and poverty rates across education levels (25+)

Adults 25+

	Clay City	Powell County	Kentucky
Median earnings
Population 25+, with earnings	$24,013	$35,474	$46,524
Less than high school graduate	$—	$24,125	$29,659
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	$27,917	$26,146	$37,177
Some college or associate's degree	$—	$40,538	$43,534
Bachelor's degree	$—	$49,926	$60,526
Graduate or professional degree	$81,250	$56,522	$70,952
Poverty rates
Less than high school graduate	52.5%	38.4%	33.5%
High school graduate (includes equivalency)	23.3%	16.1%	17%
Some college or associate's degree	46.1%	19.8%	11.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher	23.8%	1.8%	4.7%

Insights for Clay City, by topic

Income By year By race By age By gender

Population By year By race By age By gender

About Neilsberg Research

Neilsberg Research team are data scientists with expertise in processing, analysis and visualization of big data helping small businesses make right decisions.

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