Clayton, Delaware

Town in Kent County · population 3,961 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties

Clayton is a town of 3,961 people in Kent County, Delaware. The median home is worth $361,300, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks more walkable than 88% of Delaware towns, more of a college town than 75% of Delaware towns, better for families than 71% of Delaware towns.

How Clayton ranks

Percentile among Delaware towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Delaware towns.

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Clayton is worth $361,300, above the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $107,307, which is more affordable than 69% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,621 a month. 89.5% of households own their home.

Who lives in Clayton

Weather in Clayton

July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 27.6°F. About 47.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.9 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 79 nights at or below freezing.

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 4, 2020 about 3.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 4, 2020.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 2, 1968.

Severe weather in Kent County since 1996

Kent County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.

Jobs and pay in Kent County

Kent County had 71,071 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,464 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.

Public schools in Clayton

4 public schools with 2,164 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.

Towns near Clayton

• Smyrna, DE
  1.9 mi · 12,883 people · home $291,400
• Townsend, DE
  9.7 mi · 2,717 people · home $465,100
• Dover, DE
  9.8 mi · 39,403 people · home $258,900
• Highland Acres, DE
  12.5 mi · 3,492 people · home $306,400
• Middletown, DE
  12.6 mi · 23,192 people · home $409,600
• Camden, DE
  12.7 mi · 3,715 people · home $300,100
• Dover Base Housing, DE
  13.5 mi · 2,810 people · home —
• Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE
  13.8 mi · 4,104 people · home $389,900

Clayton questions