The Town Files

Clay County, Illinois

13,052 people. The median home is worth $97,400 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $60,417.

Towns in Clay County

Towns in Clay County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Flora4,803$77,300$47,14839.3

People and housing

Clay CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$97,400$156,600
Median rent$735$960
Median household income$60,417$72,500
Median age40.440.4
Bachelor's degree or higher13.1%21.8%
Below the poverty line17.5%9.9%

Jobs and pay

4,625 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,797 a year.

Largest industries in Clay CountyManufacturing1,531 jobs · $63,765Retail538 jobs · $31,308Health care & social assistan…302 jobs · $37,652Hotels & restaurants213 jobs · $19,666Wholesale trade163 jobs · $62,909Agriculture, forestry & fishi…148 jobs · $38,691
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Clay County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5.3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 424 storm events in Clay County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Clay County by type since 1996Hail76Heat7Flood11Drought8Tornado17High Wind8Lightning5Heavy Snow11Flash Flood62Winter Storm11
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Clay County has been included in 5 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
May 21, 2002TornadoDR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).