Cost of Living in Clay County, Alabama
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Clay County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Clay County ranks #34 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 1%)
Sourced county brief
Clay County Median Monthly Owner Costs Estimated at $464
Median selected monthly owner costs in Clay County were $464 for all owner-occupied units during the 2020-2024 period. This amount is below the Alabama unweighted county mean of $706. The median home value in the county was $156,700, which differs from the state unweighted county mean of $159,660. In the rental market, the median gross rent was $619 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $820. The official ACS B25071 Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 24.2%. This canonical rent-to-income percentage is 4.4 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 28.6%. The median income for renter-occupied households was $30,799. These metrics provide an overview of housing costs without interpreting cause or predicting trends. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Clay County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 24.2% of renter household income in Clay County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $619 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $464. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $24,760 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Alabama unweighted mean of county median rents is $820 per month. Clay County's $619 median is 24.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Clay County
Rent Burden
13.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,289
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Clay County
Median home value is $156,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,251 vs. your max of $1,289.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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