Cost of Living in Clay County, Arkansas
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 #262 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 8%)
Sourced county brief
Clay County GRAPI Measured at 26.4 Percent
In Clay County, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 26.4%, which is 2.0 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.4%. This 26.4% value serves as the canonical rent-to-income percentage and is sourced from official ACS B25071 GRAPI data. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $707 per month, lower than the state unweighted county mean of $774. The median home value in Clay County was $94,600, while the unweighted county mean across Arkansas was $141,465. Owners of occupied units faced median selected monthly owner costs of $571, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $663. The median renter-household income was recorded as $32,156. These figures offer a point-in-time assessment based on ACS 5-year estimates and are not intended as relocation or financial advice. 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 26.4% 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 $707 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $571. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $28,280 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 Arkansas unweighted mean of county median rents is $774 per month. Clay County's $707 median is 8.7% 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
16.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,201
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Clay County
Median home value is $94,600. Estimated monthly cost: $755 vs. your max of $1,201.
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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