County profile · Iowa
Clay County, IA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Clay County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 16,202
- −0.8% since 2020
- Households
- 7,282
- Median household income
- $65,428
- +29.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $178,600
- Jobs located here
- 8,325
- Highest market score
- 60
- Auto repair shops, #739 of 2,378 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 16,202 people live in Clay County, in 7,282 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Clay County declined 0.8%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Clay County is $65,428 a year, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 29.5% 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 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (59).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Clay County are for auto repair shops (60), sit-down restaurants (52) and dentists and orthodontists (46). Clay County ranks #739 of 2,378 scored counties for auto repair shops.
Clay County is part of the Spencer area. For its number of households, Clay County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for sit-down restaurants (37% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair shops | 60 | #739 of 2,378 | 17 | 23.3 | $452K | 102 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 52 | #1,068 of 2,405 | 28 | 38.5 | $930K | 140 | 14 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 46 | #1,089 of 1,886 | 8 | 11.0 | $1.2M | 122 | 6 |
| Auto repair and car care | 46 | #1,402 of 2,401 | 35 | 48.1 | $220K | 82 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 46 | #1,426 of 2,385 | 33 | 45.3 | $203K | 96 | 3 |
| Gas stations | 45 | #1,384 of 2,358 | 8 | 11.0 | $2.5M | 104 | 10 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,212 of 1,771 | 6 | 8.2 | $1.4M | 84 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 41 | #1,551 of 2,402 | 17 | 23.3 | $2.5M | 73 | 5 |
| Pet businesses | 40 | #1,533 of 2,200 | 10 | 13.7 | $561K | 64 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 37 | #1,588 of 2,088 | 11 | 15.1 | $511K | 77 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 37 | #1,726 of 2,405 | 67 | 92.0 | $389K | 105 | 38 |
| Hair salons | 37 | #1,783 of 2,339 | 17 | 23.3 | $395K | 92 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 36 | #1,330 of 1,707 | 5 | 6.9 | $3.7M | 78 | 6 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 35 | #1,290 of 1,656 | 10 | 13.7 | $962K | 54 | 9 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 35 | #1,882 of 2,394 | 58 | 79.6 | $166K | 109 | 28 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 34 | #1,895 of 2,176 | 17 | 23.3 | Index only | 104 | 4 |
| Convenience stores | 32 | #1,749 of 2,261 | 10 | 13.7 | $4.2M | 53 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 29 | #1,874 of 2,222 | 13 | 17.9 | $2M | 66 | 15 |
| Spas and skin care | 28 | #1,570 of 1,769 | 9 | 12.4 | $745K | 85 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 28 | #2,120 of 2,229 | 21 | 28.8 | Index only | 106 | 10 |
| Home repair trades | 27 | #1,904 of 2,057 | 11 | 15.1 | $1.7M | 70 | 13 |
| Gyms | 25 | #1,592 of 1,792 | 7 | 9.6 | $802K | 62 | 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 24 | #1,999 of 2,210 | 23 | 31.6 | $580K | 66 | 8 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 23 | #1,890 of 2,087 | 18 | 24.7 | $742K | 58 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 22 | #1,941 of 2,063 | 10 | 13.7 | $2.6M | 70 | 8 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 21 | #1,435 of 1,493 | 6 | 8.2 | $1.4M | 48 | 7 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 19 | #1,214 of 1,302 | 7 | 9.6 | $1.4M | 44 | 4 |
| Chiropractors | 19 | #1,445 of 1,490 | 11 | 15.1 | $874K | 37 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 15 | #1,417 of 1,461 | 5 | 6.9 | $1.1M | 44 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 12 | #2,234 of 2,272 | 20 | 27.5 | $605K | 48 | 11 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $626K | 63 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $1.4M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $1.7M | 100 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.5 | $6.5M | 128 | 15 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $6.2M | 52 | 7 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $14M | 151 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $3.2M | 133 | 4 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | Index only | 58 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $6.2M | 73 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $13M | Too few | 8 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.8M | Too few | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $6.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $604K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $3.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $2.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $13.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $7.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.4 | $5.6M | Too few | 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 |
| Pest control | 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 | 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 | $7.7M | $1,056 | 110 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $19.8M | $2,719 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $26M | $3,576 | 88 |
| Groceries | $42M | $5,766 | 91 |
| Personal care products and services | $6.7M | $921 | 92 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.5M | $344 | 59 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.6M | $771 | 78 |
| Medical and dental services | $9.6M | $1,321 | 103 |
| Pets | $5.6M | $770 | 85 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $13.3M | $1,833 | 89 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.1M | $1,660 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $18.6M | $2,557 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8.4M | $1,156 | 82 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $96.7M | $13,275 | 80 |
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
- 16,202−0.8% since 2020
- Households
- 7,282
- Median age
- 43.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 73%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 567 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 29
- Median household income
- $65,428+29.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $83,614
- Median home value
- $178,600
- Jobs located here
- 8,325
- Daytime population
- 16,701Residents 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
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Questions
How fast is Clay County, IA growing?
Population estimates put Clay County at 16,202 people in 2025, down 0.8% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 7,282 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 29.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Clay County, IA spend?
Households in Clay County spend about $96.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $42M on groceries and $26M 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 110, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (59).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Clay County, IA?
Of the business types scored in Clay County, auto repair shops (60), sit-down restaurants (52) and dentists and orthodontists (46) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair shops, that ranks #739 of 2,378 scored counties.
How does Clay County, IA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Clay County is $65,428, 19% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $178,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (2.8 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for sit-down restaurants (37% 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. 30 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.