The Town FilesClay, Alabama
City in Jefferson County · population 10,291 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,600
- Household income
- $81,920
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 39.9
Clay is a city of 10,291 people in Jefferson County, Alabama. The median home is worth $220,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 80% of Alabama towns, more walkable than 75% of Alabama towns.
How Clay ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clay is worth $220,600, above the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $81,920, which is more affordable than 62% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $2,240 a month. 90.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,600 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $2,240 | $834 |
| Median household income | $81,920 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.5% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clay
| People | Clay | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.9 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 28.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 32.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Clay
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.0°F. About 57.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 64 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 4, 1977 about 8.5 miles from the town center and killed 22. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 89 deaths and 1,273 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 29, 1960.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| December 21, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4632: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 26, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4596: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 367,081 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,562 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Clay itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Clay
1 public school with 634 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Elementary School | PK-5 | 634 | 17.6 |
Towns near Clay
- Pinson, AL3.3 mi · 7,215 people · home $212,000
- Trussville, AL3.9 mi · 26,123 people · home $370,300
- Grayson Valley, AL4.0 mi · 5,982 people · home $148,400
- Center Point, AL5.7 mi · 16,406 people · home $151,700
- Argo, AL5.9 mi · 4,368 people · home $248,100
- Remlap, AL7.7 mi · 2,624 people · home $208,900
- Springville, AL7.8 mi · 4,786 people · home $284,300
- Margaret, AL8.5 mi · 5,106 people · home $230,900
Clay questions
Is Clay, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clay scores better for retirees than 10% of Alabama towns and quieter than 25%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.9).
How much does a house cost in Clay?
The median owner-occupied home in Clay is valued at $220,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,920, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $2,240 a month.
What is the weather like in Clay?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 31.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Clay get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 4, 1977. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)