The Town FilesClayton, New Jersey
Borough in Gloucester County · population 8,807 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $252,300
- Household income
- $90,274
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 39.8
Clayton is a borough of 8,807 people in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $252,300, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of New Jersey towns, easier by car than 85% of New Jersey towns.
How Clayton ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clayton is worth $252,300, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $90,274, which is more affordable than 89% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,246 a month. 80.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clayton | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $252,300 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,246 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $90,274 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.8% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Clayton
| People | Clayton | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 32.2 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 94.6% |
Weather in Clayton
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 25.4°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.2 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 35 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on September 1, 2021 about 8.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 24, 1999.
Severe weather in Gloucester County since 1996
Gloucester County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Gloucester County
Gloucester County had 124,439 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,070 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Clayton itself the ACS puts it at 7.2%.
Public schools in Clayton
3 public schools with 1,477 students, about 11.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Herma S. Simmons Elementary School | PK-5 | 685 | 9.9 |
| Clayton High School | 9-12 | 464 | 12.5 |
| Clayton Middle School | 6-8 | 328 | 12.1 |
Towns near Clayton
- Glassboro, NJ3.2 mi · 23,149 people · home $314,400
- Elk, NJ4.4 mi · 4,424 people · home $350,400
- Franklin, NJ5.3 mi · 16,380 people · home $306,800
- Monroe, NJ5.6 mi · 37,117 people · home $283,100
- Pitman, NJ5.6 mi · 8,780 people · home $279,300
- Williamstown, NJ5.8 mi · 15,082 people · home $278,600
- Washington, NJ5.8 mi · 48,677 people · home $337,600
- Richwood, NJ6.3 mi · 3,577 people · home $594,100
Clayton questions
Is Clayton, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clayton scores better for retirees than 31% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 33%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Clayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Clayton is valued at $252,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,274, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,246 a month.
What is the weather like in Clayton?
July highs average 88.8°F and January lows 25.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 16.2 inches of snow.
Does Clayton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on September 1, 2021. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)