County profile · Minnesota
Clay County, MN market data
How Clay County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 67,734
- +3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 26,442
- Median household income
- $81,172
- +24.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $265,500
- Jobs located here
- 20,888
- Highest market score
- 88
- Sit-down restaurants, #37 of 2,405 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
Clay County has an estimated 67,734 people and 26,442 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Clay County grew 3.6%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Clay County is $81,172, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 24.4%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Clay County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (74).
Of the business types scored in Clay County, sit-down restaurants (88); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (87); and grocery and convenience stores (87) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For sit-down restaurants, that ranks #37 of 2,405 scored counties.
Clay County is part of the Fargo metro area. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for house cleaning businesses (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (74% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurants | 88 | #37 of 2,405 | 80 | 30.3 | $1.3M | 198 | 20 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 87 | #43 of 2,210 | 19 | 7.2 | $2.8M | 317 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 87 | #73 of 2,402 | 31 | 11.7 | $5.2M | 153 | 7 |
| Spas and skin care | 86 | #21 of 1,769 | 10 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 303 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 86 | #34 of 1,889 | 11 | 4.2 | $9.6M | 231 | 7 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 86 | #61 of 2,087 | 11 | 4.2 | $4.8M | 379 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 85 | #63 of 2,405 | 171 | 64.7 | $614K | 166 | 68 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 83 | #39 of 1,886 | 14 | 5.3 | $2.7M | 275 | 15 |
| Convenience stores | 83 | #113 of 2,261 | 11 | 4.2 | $14.7M | 186 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | 83 | #136 of 2,070 | 12 | 4.5 | $13.4M | 145 | 6 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 82 | #25 of 1,334 | 6 | 2.3 | $4.1M | 201 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 82 | #38 of 1,422 | 9 | 3.4 | $4.2M | 175 | 7 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 82 | #76 of 2,394 | 90 | 34.0 | $421K | 276 | 44 |
| Child care and preschools | 79 | #96 of 1,611 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.4M | 142 | 8 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 78 | #93 of 2,088 | 26 | 9.8 | $937K | 141 | 8 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 78 | #146 of 2,063 | 21 | 7.9 | $5M | 135 | 7 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 78 | #164 of 2,222 | 24 | 9.1 | $4.4M | 143 | 41 |
| Barbershops | 76 | #123 of 1,356 | 9 | 3.4 | $3M | 157 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 75 | #235 of 2,401 | 87 | 32.9 | $328K | 122 | 30 |
| Pizza | 73 | #226 of 2,090 | 19 | 7.2 | $5.5M | 109 | 41 |
| Car washes and detailing | 72 | #184 of 1,451 | 10 | 3.8 | $2.9M | 113 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 70 | #282 of 2,385 | 68 | 25.7 | $391K | 184 | 24 |
| Roofing and gutters | 68 | #191 of 1,177 | 8 | 3.0 | $9M | 106 | 3 |
| Hair salons | 68 | #350 of 2,339 | 41 | 15.5 | $648K | 151 | 17 |
| Gas stations | 68 | #454 of 2,358 | 23 | 8.7 | $3.1M | 131 | 24 |
| Pet businesses | 65 | #477 of 2,200 | 27 | 10.2 | $848K | 97 | 14 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 64 | #380 of 2,176 | 28 | 10.6 | Index only | 245 | 22 |
| Gyms | 64 | #400 of 1,792 | 18 | 6.8 | $1.4M | 104 | 8 |
| Real estate | 64 | #403 of 2,229 | 36 | 13.6 | Index only | 240 | 33 |
| Pet stores | 62 | #287 of 974 | 5 | 1.9 | $4.6M | 101 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 61 | #694 of 2,378 | 59 | 22.3 | $484K | 109 | 29 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 58 | #493 of 1,327 | 10 | 3.8 | $2.9M | 93 | 7 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 54 | #729 of 1,707 | 22 | 8.3 | $3.3M | 69 | 15 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 51 | #683 of 1,493 | 15 | 5.7 | $2.2M | 75 | 21 |
| Funeral homes | 50 | #696 of 1,472 | 6 | 2.3 | $546K | 80 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 47 | #846 of 1,490 | 20 | 7.6 | $1.9M | 79 | 15 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #1,255 of 2,057 | 43 | 16.3 | $1.7M | 69 | 39 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 41 | #1,233 of 1,771 | 29 | 11.0 | $1.1M | 67 | 34 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 36 | #1,065 of 1,461 | 16 | 6.1 | $1.4M | 56 | 11 |
| Electricians | 35 | #922 of 1,160 | 13 | 4.9 | $5.5M | 46 | 21 |
| House cleaning | 33 | #717 of 847 | 13 | 4.9 | $2.5M | 39 | 13 |
| Insurance agencies | 25 | #1,949 of 2,272 | 45 | 17.0 | $964K | 77 | 40 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $6.6M | 398 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | $9.5M | 303 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.5 | Index only | 168 | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | Index only | 48 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $17.7M | 141 | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $9.5M | 380 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.1 | $7.6M | 280 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $19M | Too few | 7 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $12.2M | Too few | 8 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $28.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $32.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | 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 |
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 | $28.5M | $1,080 | 113 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $72M | $2,725 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $105.1M | $3,974 | 98 |
| Groceries | $161.2M | $6,097 | 96 |
| Personal care products and services | $26.6M | $1,005 | 100 |
| Child care and other personal services | $11.3M | $429 | 74 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $24.4M | $921 | 94 |
| Medical and dental services | $37.9M | $1,434 | 111 |
| Pets | $22.9M | $866 | 95 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $53M | $2,003 | 97 |
| Vehicle insurance | $43.4M | $1,640 | 84 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $71.8M | $2,717 | 90 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $32.8M | $1,242 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $374.3M | $14,155 | 85 |
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
- 67,734+3.6% since 2020
- Households
- 26,442
- Median age
- 34.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,045 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 63
- Median household income
- $81,172+24.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $99,798
- Median home value
- $265,500
- Jobs located here
- 20,888
- Daytime population
- 54,566Residents 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 Minnesota 8
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- Wilkin County, MN6,371 people
- Becker County, MN35,343 people
- Mahnomen County, MN5,358 people
- Otter Tail County, MN60,475 people
- Polk County, MN30,705 people
- Grant County, MN6,127 people
- Red Lake County, MN3,915 people
Questions
How fast is Clay County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Clay County at 67,734 people in 2025, up 3.6% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 26,442 households. Median household income rose 24.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Clay County, MN spend?
Households in Clay County spend about $374.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $161.2M on groceries and $105.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Clay County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (74).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Clay County, MN?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Clay County are for sit-down restaurants (88); clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (87); and grocery and convenience stores (87). Clay County ranks #37 of 2,405 scored counties for sit-down restaurants.
How does Clay County, MN compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Clay County is $81,172 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.6% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $265,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Clay County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for house cleaning businesses (2.2 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (74% 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. 42 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.