County profile · Illinois
Clay County, IL market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Clay County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 12,793
- −3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 5,311
- Median household income
- $60,417
- +24.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $97,400
- Jobs located here
- 4,511
- Highest market score
- 53
- Fast food and sandwich shops, #1,011 of 2,222 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Clay County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Clay County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 12,793 people live in Clay County, in 5,311 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Clay County declined 3.6%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Clay County is $60,417 a year, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Clay County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 115, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (56).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Clay County are for fast food and sandwich shops (53), sit-down restaurants (53) and grocery and convenience stores (53). Clay County ranks #1,011 of 2,222 scored counties for fast food and sandwich shops.
For its number of households, Clay County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for insurance agencies (45% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for sit-down restaurants (38% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Clay County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Clay County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 53 | #1,011 of 2,222 | 5 | 9.4 | $3.6M | 117 | 8 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 53 | #1,022 of 2,405 | 20 | 37.7 | $894K | 135 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 53 | #1,052 of 2,402 | 6 | 11.3 | $4.9M | 145 | Under 3 |
| Gas stations | 47 | #1,300 of 2,358 | 6 | 11.3 | $2.5M | 106 | 7 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 46 | #1,241 of 2,088 | 5 | 9.4 | $752K | 114 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #1,450 of 2,405 | 48 | 90.4 | $373K | 100 | 16 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 44 | #1,457 of 2,394 | 31 | 58.4 | $216K | 142 | 14 |
| Real estate | 40 | #1,595 of 2,229 | 7 | 13.2 | Index only | 224 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 35 | #1,834 of 2,176 | 7 | 13.2 | Index only | 178 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 35 | #1,936 of 2,385 | 19 | 35.8 | $244K | 115 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 33 | #1,701 of 2,090 | 6 | 11.3 | $3M | 59 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 31 | #1,973 of 2,378 | 14 | 26.4 | $418K | 94 | 12 |
| Auto repair and car care | 30 | #2,022 of 2,401 | 24 | 45.2 | $244K | 91 | 14 |
| Spas and skin care | 28 | #1,563 of 1,769 | 5 | 9.4 | $927K | 106 | Under 3 |
| Hair salons | 27 | #2,095 of 2,339 | 12 | 22.6 | $386K | 90 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 22 | #1,785 of 1,889 | 5 | 9.4 | $3.6M | 86 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 13 | #1,476 of 1,490 | 6 | 11.3 | $1.1M | 47 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 12 | #2,182 of 2,200 | 9 | 16.9 | $429K | 49 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 9 | #2,251 of 2,272 | 12 | 22.6 | $766K | 61 | 10 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $2.3M | 263 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $1.7M | 170 | 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $239K | 35 | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $940K | 72 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $3.2M | 133 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $1.7M | 53 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.5 | $1.7M | 94 | 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.6 | $3.1M | 243 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.6 | $2M | 63 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.6 | $4.3M | 36 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.6 | $1.9M | 116 | 5 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.6 | $2M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.6 | $1.3M | 47 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $8.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $14.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $14.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $1.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.8 | $1.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $12.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $5.8M | Too few | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $9.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $5.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.9 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Clay County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $5.9M | $1,103 | 115 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $15.1M | $2,848 | 110 |
| Food away from home | $17.9M | $3,368 | 83 |
| Groceries | $29.6M | $5,568 | 88 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.6M | $873 | 87 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.7M | $324 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3.8M | $708 | 72 |
| Medical and dental services | $6.7M | $1,261 | 98 |
| Pets | $3.9M | $726 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $9.3M | $1,746 | 85 |
| Vehicle insurance | $9.2M | $1,730 | 88 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $12.9M | $2,433 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $5.8M | $1,099 | 78 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $67.9M | $12,788 | 77 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Clay County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 12,793−3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 5,311
- Median age
- 41.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 79%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 468 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 28
- Median household income
- $60,417+24.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $78,530
- Median home value
- $97,400
- Jobs located here
- 4,511
- Daytime population
- 12,012Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Clay County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Clay County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Illinois 8
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- Richland County, IL15,598 people
- Effingham County, IL34,522 people
- Jasper County, IL9,180 people
- Marion County, IL37,000 people
- Edwards County, IL6,075 people
- Fayette County, IL21,315 people
- Jefferson County, IL36,550 people
Questions
How fast is Clay County, IL growing?
Population estimates put Clay County at 12,793 people in 2025, down 3.6% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 5,311 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Clay County, IL spend?
Households in Clay County spend about $67.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $29.6M on groceries and $17.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Clay County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 115, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (56).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Clay County, IL?
Of the business types scored in Clay County, fast food and sandwich shops (53), sit-down restaurants (53) and grocery and convenience stores (53) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For fast food and sandwich shops, that ranks #1,011 of 2,222 scored counties.
How does Clay County, IL compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Clay County is $60,417, 25% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $97,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for insurance agencies (45% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for sit-down restaurants (38% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 19 of the 56 business types have a score in Clay County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Clay County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Clay County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Clay County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.