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Clay County, NC
1 city or town and 3 ZIP codes in Clay County, North Carolina.
Population
11,610
Land area
215sq mi
People per sq mi
54
ZIP codes
3
Cities and towns in Clay County
Clay County at a glance
- Clay County is 76% less dense than North Carolina as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $56,971 a year, 21% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $278,400 (4% below North Carolina) and median rent is $804 a month.
Local data for Clay County, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Clay County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$56,971
Poverty rate
12.9%
Median home value
$278,400
Prices +1.4% in a year
Median rent
$804/mo
Homeownership
81.2%
Bachelor's or higher
31.8%
Median age
55.0
Average commute
23.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,486), Irish Americans (1,256), Italian Americans (672).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Aug 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,123
2,233 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,528
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$110M
FY 2026, $9,942 per person
PPP loans
$14.2M
282 loans, 2,345 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$92.8K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Clay County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.1%
- Carpooled11.5%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked0.2%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.0%
- Worked from home8.1%
Average one-way commute: 23.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Clay County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
150
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
134
2.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 24°F
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone2 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Clay County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.3%
U.S. 33.3% +2.0 pts
Diabetes
14.3%
U.S. 12.1% +2.2 pts
Smoking
13.8%
U.S. 12.8% +1.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.5%
U.S. 11.1% -2.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Clay County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Clay County, NC?
- Hayesville is the largest city or town in Clay County, with about 1,208 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Clay County?
- Clay County includes 3 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 28902, 28904, 28909.
- What is the population of Clay County, NC?
- About 11,610 people live in Clay County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Clay County?
- Clay County borders Macon County, Cherokee County, Union County, GA, Rabun County, GA, Towns County, GA.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023