Cost of Living in Clay County, South Dakota
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 #1,766 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 44%)
Sourced county brief
Clay County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $1,252
In Clay County, the median selected monthly owner cost for owner-occupied housing units was $1,252, which is $399 above the South Dakota unweighted county mean of $853. The official median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 29.6%, a value 6.9 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 22.7%. Median gross rent was recorded at $770 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $785. The median home value in the county was $232,300, which is $51,279 above the state unweighted county mean of $181,021. Median renter-household income was estimated at $31,200. These figures are derived from the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates and represent the housing cost environment for the covered years. 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 29.6% 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 $770 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,252. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,800 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 South Dakota unweighted mean of county median rents is $785 per month. Clay County's $770 median is 1.9% 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
16.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,327
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.4%
of gross income
The median home in Clay County may be a stretch
Median home value is $232,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,855 vs. your max of $1,327.
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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