County profile · North Carolina
Clay County, NC market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Clay County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 12,239
- +9.9% since 2020
- Households
- 5,081
- Median household income
- $56,971
- +34.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $278,400
- Jobs located here
- 2,096
- Highest market score
- 89
- Gas stations, #39 of 2,358 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 12,239 people live in Clay County, in 5,081 households. Population estimates put the population change in Clay County from 2020 to 2025 at +9.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Clay County is $56,971 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 34.9% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Clay County spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (59).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Clay County are for gas stations (89), medical and dental practices (75) and fast food and sandwich shops (72). Clay County ranks #39 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
For its number of households, Clay County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for auto repair shops (56% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (67% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 89 | #39 of 2,358 | 5 | 9.8 | $3.3M | 139 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 75 | #206 of 2,394 | 14 | 27.6 | $366K | 240 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 72 | #314 of 2,222 | 5 | 9.8 | $3.4M | 112 | 6 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 69 | #468 of 2,402 | 8 | 15.7 | $3.6M | 105 | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 67 | #451 of 2,210 | 5 | 9.8 | $1.7M | 195 | 3 |
| Real estate | 59 | #639 of 2,229 | 13 | 25.6 | Index only | 124 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 59 | #707 of 2,200 | 6 | 11.8 | $667K | 76 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #906 of 2,401 | 26 | 51.2 | $194K | 72 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 56 | #763 of 2,176 | 10 | 19.7 | Index only | 128 | 3 |
| Convenience stores | 56 | #906 of 2,261 | 5 | 9.8 | $5.7M | 72 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 55 | #987 of 2,405 | 46 | 90.5 | $371K | 100 | 19 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 54 | #731 of 1,771 | 5 | 9.8 | $1.3M | 80 | 7 |
| Home repair trades | 52 | #964 of 2,057 | 8 | 15.7 | $1.6M | 66 | 4 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 52 | #1,062 of 2,385 | 17 | 33.5 | $239K | 112 | Under 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 49 | #1,061 of 2,063 | 5 | 9.8 | $3.4M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 49 | #1,116 of 2,088 | 5 | 9.8 | $594K | 90 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 46 | #1,356 of 2,405 | 23 | 45.3 | $742K | 112 | 13 |
| Auto repair shops | 41 | #1,636 of 2,378 | 17 | 33.5 | $297K | 67 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 36 | #1,137 of 1,493 | 5 | 9.8 | $1.3M | 46 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #1,848 of 2,339 | 13 | 25.6 | $313K | 73 | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $1.3M | 130 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.9 | $3.2M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $5.7M | 137 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.7M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $2.9M | 225 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.7M | 55 | Under 3 |
| Grocery stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $9.5M | 102 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $4.3M | 90 | 4 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.3M | 52 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $5.7M | 112 | 6 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.9 | $1.4M | 155 | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $935K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $518K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $7.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.6M | Too few | 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $2.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $1.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $12.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $8.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $5.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | 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 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 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 |
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 | $5M | $992 | 104 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $16.6M | $3,271 | 126 |
| Food away from home | $17.1M | $3,360 | 83 |
| Groceries | $28.5M | $5,616 | 89 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.1M | $800 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $1.9M | $368 | 63 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $3M | $584 | 59 |
| Medical and dental services | $5.1M | $1,008 | 78 |
| Pets | $4M | $788 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $8.6M | $1,691 | 82 |
| Vehicle insurance | $14.2M | $2,801 | 143 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $12.8M | $2,522 | 84 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6.7M | $1,326 | 94 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $70M | $13,771 | 83 |
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
- 12,239+9.9% since 2020
- Households
- 5,081
- Median age
- 55.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 215 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 54
- Median household income
- $56,971+34.9% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $84,069
- Median home value
- $278,400
- Jobs located here
- 2,096
- Daytime population
- 9,580Residents 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 North Carolina 8
- Cherokee County, NC29,562 people
- Graham County, NC8,072 people
- Macon County, NC37,941 people
- Swain County, NC14,013 people
- Jackson County, NC43,771 people
- Haywood County, NC62,662 people
- Transylvania County, NC33,691 people
- Henderson County, NC118,484 people
Questions
How fast is Clay County, NC growing?
Population estimates put Clay County at 12,239 people in 2025, up 9.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 5,081 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 34.9%, before inflation.
How much do households in Clay County, NC spend?
Households in Clay County spend about $70M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $28.5M on groceries and $17.1M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Clay County runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 143, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (59).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Clay County, NC?
Of the business types scored in Clay County, gas stations (89), medical and dental practices (75) and fast food and sandwich shops (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #39 of 2,358 scored counties.
How does Clay County, NC compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Clay County is $56,971, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 9.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $278,400, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for auto repair shops (56% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (67% 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. 20 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.