Checked
Clay County, NE
11 cities and towns and 10 ZIP codes in Clay County, Nebraska.
Population
6,095
Land area
572sq mi
People per sq mi
11
ZIP codes
10
Cities and towns in Clay County
Clay County at a glance
- Clay County is 59% less dense than Nebraska as a whole.
- The median household income is $78,986, 3% above the Nebraska median of $76,475.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $155,600 (35% below Nebraska) and median rent is $645 a month.
- Its largest cities are Sutton (1,323), Harvard (1,008) and Clay Center (802).
Local data for Clay County, NE
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Clay County, NE, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$78,986
Poverty rate
6.9%
Median home value
$155,600
Prices -0.5% in a year
Median rent
$645/mo
Homeownership
81.9%
Bachelor's or higher
22.3%
Median age
39.1
Average commute
22.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,328), Irish Americans (578), Mexican Americans (532).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
2.1%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$53,715
2,036 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$66,993
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$71.4M
FY 2026, $11,693 per person
PPP loans
$21.9M
809 loans, 2,821 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$20.5K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Clay County, NE, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone82.3%
- Carpooled7.7%
- Public transit0.1%
- Walked2.3%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
- Worked from home6.7%
Average one-way commute: 22.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Clay County, NE, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
712
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
8
0.2% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
87° / 16°F
29.8 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Clay County, NE, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
40.1%
U.S. 33.3% +6.8 pts
Diabetes
11.8%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
14.9%
U.S. 12.8% +2.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.6%
U.S. 11.1% -1.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Clay County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Clay County, NE?
- Sutton is the largest city or town in Clay County, with about 1,323 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Clay County?
- Clay County includes 10 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 68452, 68933, 68935, 68938, 68941.
- What is the population of Clay County, NE?
- About 6,095 people live in Clay County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Clay County?
- Clay County borders Adams County, York County, Hamilton County, Fillmore County, Nuckolls County, Webster County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023