Cost of Living in Clay County, Illinois
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 #770 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 25%)
Sourced county brief
Clay County Official GRAPI Estimated at 19.4 Percent
Clay County's official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 19.4%. This metric is 6.7 percentage points lower than the Illinois unweighted county mean of 26.1%. The median gross rent for the county was $735 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $867. For homeowners, the median home value was estimated at $97,400, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $153,020. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $753, while the state unweighted county mean was $960. Renter-household median income was $43,750 in this county. All housing statistics are sourced from the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. 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 19.4% 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 $735 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $753. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,400 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 Illinois unweighted mean of county median rents is $867 per month. Clay County's $735 median is 15.3% 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
14.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,410
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.0%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Clay County
Median home value is $97,400. Estimated monthly cost: $778 vs. your max of $1,410.
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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