Clay County, Indiana
Named for statesman and senator Henry Clay, author of the 1850 Missouri Compromise
County Seat: Brazil
Largest City: Brazil (2025 population: 8,343)
Population per Square Mile: 73.87
Square Miles: 357.50
Go to county's in.gov site
| Population over Time | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Yesterday (2020) | 26,466 | 60 | 0.4% | 6,484,050 |
| Today (2025) | 26,410 | 60 | 0.4% | 6,973,333 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 26,257 | 60 | 0.4% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | -0.2% | 65 | | 2.8% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2024-2025 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 140 | 32 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | -4 | 91 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -78 | 69 | -0.9% | 8,561 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2025 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 1,398 | 64 | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 4,447 | 59 | 16.8% | 16.8% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 1,930 | 62 | 7.3% | 9.8% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 6,290 | 61 | 23.8% | 25.6% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 6,587 | 61 | 24.9% | 23.5% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 5,758 | 59 | 21.8% | 18.4% |
| Median Age | 42.5 | | | Median Age = 38.6 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2025 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 103 | 68 | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Asian Alone | 98 | 71 | 0.4% | 3.2% |
| Black Alone | 252 | 61 | 1.0% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 3 | 82 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 25,095 | 60 | 95.0% | 81.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 859 | 53 | 3.3% | 4.2% |
| Non-Hispanic | 25,818 | 59 | 97.8% | 90.4% |
| Hispanic | 592 | 72 | 2.2% | 9.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Household Types | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Households in 2024 (Includes detail not shown below) | 10,549 | 60 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Married With Children | 1,921 | 60 | 18.2% | 17.9% |
| Married Without Children | 3,611 | 60 | 34.2% | 29.3% |
| Single Parents | 860 | 57 | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Living Alone | 2,705 | 62 | 25.6% | 29.6% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Housing | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Total Housing Units in 2025 (estimate) | 11,777 | 61 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Housing Units in 2024 (includes vacant units) | 11,645 | 61 | 100.0% | 100.0% |
Owner Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 8,530 | 60 | 73.3% | 64.4% |
| Median Value (2024) | $153,000 | 75 | | |
Renter Occupied
(Pct. distribution based on all housing units) | 2,019 | 62 | 17.3% | 26.9% |
| Median Rent (2024) | $626 | 57 | | |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Education | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| School Enrollment (2025/2026 Total Reported) | 3,976 | 60 | 0.4% | 1,112,710 |
| Public | 3,976 | 58 | 0.4% | 1,010,042 |
| Adults (25+ in 2024 ACS) | 18,501 | 59 | 0.4% | 4,596,004 |
| with High School diploma or higher | 90.2% | 51 | | 90.4% |
| with B.A. or higher degree | 20.3% | 42 | | 29.5% |
Sources: Indiana Department of Education; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
| Income and Poverty | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Per Capita Personal Income (annual) in 2024 | $48,881 | 86 | 76.3% | 64,077 |
| Median Household Income in 2024 | 69,967 | 47 | 97.2% | $71,958 |
| Poverty Rate in 2024 | 12.0% | 41 | 99.2% | 12.1% |
| Poverty Rate among Children under 18 | 17.2% | 29 | 108.9% | 15.8% |
| Welfare (TANF) Monthly Average Families in 2025 | 14 | 52 | 0.3% | 4,863 |
| Food Stamp Recipients in 2025 | 2,054 | 55 | 0.4% | 578,293 |
| Free and Reduced Fee Lunch Recipients in 2025/2026 | 1,784 | 60 | 0.4% | 476,608 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Family Social Services Administration; Indiana Department of Education
| Health and Vital Statistics | Number | Rank of | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Births, 2021 | 286 | 61 | 0.4% | 79,946 |
| Births to Teens, 2021 | 19 | 47 | 0.5% | 3,845 |
| Deaths, 2019 | 277 | 65 | 0.4% | 66,005 |
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
| Labor Force, 2025 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 12,392 | 61 | 0.4% | 3,506,284 |
| Employed | 11,947 | 61 | 0.4% | 3,377,760 |
| Unemployed | 445 | 63 | 0.3% | 128,524 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 3.6 | 35 | 97.3% | 3.7 |
| June 2026 Unemployment Rate | 3.5 | 37 | 97.2% | 3.6 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2024 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 10,933 | 100.0% | $577,201 | 100.0% | $52,794 |
| Wage and Salary | 8,051 | 73.6% | $415,965 | 72.1% | $51,666 |
| Farm Proprietors | 491 | 4.5% | $7,724 | 1.3% | $15,731 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 2,391 | 21.9% | $45,641 | 7.9% | $19,089 |
| Farm | 542 | 5.0% | $10,664 | 1.8% | $19,675 |
| Nonfarm | 10,391 | 95.0% | $566,537 | 98.2% | $54,522 |
| Private | 9,161 | 83.8% | $493,414 | 85.5% | $53,860 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 672 | 6.1% | $17,021 | 2.9% | $25,329 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 100 | 0.9% | $1,460 | 0.3% | $14,600 |
| Construction | 566 | 5.2% | $23,952 | 4.1% | $42,318 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Information | 78 | 0.7% | $5,387 | 0.9% | $69,064 |
| Manufacturing | 2,896 | 26.5% | $254,169 | 44.0% | $87,766 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Retail Trade | 1,257 | 11.5% | $41,957 | 7.3% | $33,379 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 425 | 3.9% | $20,862 | 3.6% | $49,087 |
| Wholesale Trade | 128 | 1.2% | $6,696 | 1.2% | $52,313 |
| Other Private (not above) | 1,818* | 16.6%* | $61,668* | 10.7%* | $33,921* |
| Government | 1,230 | 11.3% | $73,123 | 12.7% | $59,450 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
* These totals do not include county data that are not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements.
| Residential Building Permits, 2025 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 26 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $5,214 | $8,792,236 |
| Single-Family | 24 | 92.3% | 68.4% | $4,729 | $7,272,703 |
| 2-Family | 2 | 7.7% | 1.7% | 485 | $80,213 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% | $0 | $31,389 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 29.3% | $0 | $1,407,931 |
Notes: Detail cost may not sum to total due to rounding. Greene County does not currently issue building permits, so it is excluded.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Largest Cities and Towns in Clay County
| Name | Population
in 2025 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Brazil | 8,343 | 31.6% |
| Carbon | 251 | 1.0% |
| Center Point | 206 | 0.8% |
| Clay City | 884 | 3.3% |
| Harmony | 668 | 2.5% |
| Knightsville | 673 | 2.5% |
| Staunton | 467 | 1.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers