The Town FilesClay, New York
Town in Onondaga County · population 60,527 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $205,900
- Household income
- $90,707
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 128 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 39.8
Clay is a town of 60,527 people in Onondaga County, New York. The median home is worth $205,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). It ranks more vibrant than 81% of New York towns, better for cycling than 74% of New York towns, more walkable than 70% of New York towns.
How Clay ranks
Percentile among New York 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 York towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Clay is worth $205,900, below the typical New York town ($217,700). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $90,707, which is more affordable than 72% of New York towns. Median rent is $1,240 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clay | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,900 | $217,700 |
| Median rent | $1,240 | $1,080 |
| Median household income | $90,707 | $80,740 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 79.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Clay
| People | Clay | Typical New York town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 43.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 20.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 30.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 26.0 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 91.1% |
Weather in Clay
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 12.6°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 127.8 inches of snow (typical New York town: 62.9 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New York town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 2, 1983 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 23, 2004.
Severe weather in Onondaga County since 1996
Onondaga County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4625: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
| March 20, 2020 | Biological | DR-4480: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3434: Covid-19 |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3351: Hurricane Sandy |
| June 10, 2011 | Flood | DR-1993: Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Onondaga County
Onondaga County had 245,375 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,444 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Clay itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Towns near Clay
- North Syracuse, NY4.4 mi · 6,739 people · home $163,000
- Brewerton, NY4.4 mi · 3,907 people · home $195,600
- Salina, NY5.2 mi · 33,223 people · home $160,500
- Radisson, NY5.4 mi · 7,038 people · home $313,600
- Mattydale, NY6.1 mi · 6,296 people · home $121,900
- Galeville, NY6.4 mi · 4,482 people · home $140,100
- Lakeland, NY6.6 mi · 2,556 people · home $167,900
- Cicero, NY6.8 mi · 31,435 people · home $221,200
Clay questions
Is Clay, New York a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clay scores better for retirees than 27% of New York towns and quieter than 21%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Clay?
The median owner-occupied home in Clay is valued at $205,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,707, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,240 a month.
What is the weather like in Clay?
July highs average 80.8°F and January lows 12.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 127.8 inches of snow.
Does Clay get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 2, 1983. The typical New York town has had 5.
- 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)