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Clayton County, IA
16 cities and towns and 15 ZIP codes in Clayton County, Iowa.
Population
17,013
Land area
778sq mi
People per sq mi
22
ZIP codes
15
Cities and towns in Clayton County
Clayton County at a glance
- Clayton County is 62% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $67,242 a year, 10% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $168,500 (19% below Iowa) and median rent is $790 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Guttenberg (1,782), Monona (1,531) and Elkader (1,293).
Local data for Clayton County, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Clayton County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$67,242
Poverty rate
10.9%
Median home value
$168,500
Prices +1.8% in a year
Median rent
$790/mo
Homeownership
78.0%
Bachelor's or higher
14.5%
Median age
46.4
Average commute
23.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (7,935), Irish Americans (1,967), Norwegian Americans (1,373).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,315
6,171 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$68,155
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$137M
FY 2026, $8,061 per person
PPP loans
$57.76M
1,685 loans, 5,600 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$101K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Clayton County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.4%
- Carpooled7.5%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.6%
- Worked from home8.3%
Average one-way commute: 23.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Clayton County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
651
Most often flood
Flood insurance policies
85
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 6°F
38.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone45 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Clayton County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
41.0%
U.S. 33.3% +7.7 pts
Diabetes
13.9%
U.S. 12.1% +1.8 pts
Smoking
17.8%
U.S. 12.8% +5.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.7%
U.S. 11.1% -3.4 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Clayton County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Clayton County, IA?
- Guttenberg is the largest city or town in Clayton County, with about 1,782 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Clayton County?
- Clayton County includes 15 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 52035, 52042, 52043, 52044, 52047.
- What is the population of Clayton County, IA?
- About 17,013 people live in Clayton County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Clayton County?
- Clayton County borders Dubuque County, Grant County, WI, Buchanan County, Winneshiek County, Fayette County, Delaware County, Crawford County, WI, Allamakee County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023