Clay County, Indiana
Named for statesman and senator Henry Clay, author of the 1850 Missouri Compromise
County Seat: Brazil
Largest City: Brazil (2024 population: 8,239)
Population per Square Mile: 73.91
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 (2024) | 26,424 | 59 | 0.4% | 6,934,754 |
| Tomorrow (2030 projection)* | 26,257 | 60 | 0.4% | 7,013,509 |
| Percent Change 2020 to Today | -0.2% | 63 | | 2.2% |
*Projection based on 2020 Census population estimates.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Components of Population Change, 2023-2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Net Domestic Migration | 37 | 56 | | 12,197 |
| Net International Migration | 5 | 78 | | 17,852 |
| Natural Increase (births minus deaths) | -40 | 44 | -0.5% | 8,561 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
| Population Estimates by Age, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| Preschool (0 to 4) | 1,441 | 61 | 5.5% | 5.9% |
| School Age (5 to 17) | 4,490 | 60 | 17.0% | 17.0% |
| College Age (18 to 24) | 1,891 | 61 | 7.2% | 9.7% |
| Young Adult (25 to 44) | 6,502 | 60 | 24.6% | 25.9% |
| Older Adult (45 to 64) | 6,743 | 60 | 25.5% | 23.9% |
| Seniors (65 and older) | 5,357 | 60 | 20.3% | 17.5% |
| Median Age | 41.8 | | | Median Age = 38.3 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Indiana Business Research Center
| Population Estimates by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2024 | Number | Rank of | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native Alone | 99 | 65 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian Alone | 96 | 73 | 0.4% | 3.1% |
| Black Alone | 267 | 61 | 1.0% | 10.6% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pac. Isl. Alone | 11 | 63 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| White | 25,485 | 59 | 96.4% | 83.2% |
| Two or More Race Groups | 466 | 49 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Non-Hispanic | 25,863 | 59 | 97.9% | 90.9% |
| Hispanic | 561 | 71 | 2.1% | 9.1% |
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 2024 (estimate) | 11,687 | 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 (2024/2025 Total Reported) | 3,995 | 61 | 0.4% | 1,132,621 |
| Public | 3,995 | 58 | 0.4% | 1,033,552 |
| 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 2023 | $47,328 | 84 | 77.3% | 61,243 |
| 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 2024/2025 | 1,776 | 63 | 0.4% | 488,145 |
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, 2024 | Number | Rank in State | Percent of State | Indiana |
|---|
| Total Resident Labor Force | 12,225 | 61 | 0.4% | 3,455,992 |
| Employed | 11,725 | 61 | 0.4% | 3,310,992 |
| Unemployed | 500 | 62 | 0.3% | 145,000 |
| Annual Unemployment Rate | 4.1 | 38 | 97.6% | 4.2 |
| December 2025 Unemployment Rate | 2.6 | 37 | 96.3% | 2.7 |
Source: STATS Indiana, using data from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development
| Employment and Earnings by Industry, 2023 | Employment | Pct Dist.
in County | Earnings ($000) | Pct Dist.
In County | Avg. Earnings Per Job |
|---|
| Total by place of work | 10,933 | 100.0% | $555,617 | 100.0% | $50,820 |
| Wage and Salary | 8,051 | 73.6% | $390,767 | 70.3% | $48,536 |
| Farm Proprietors | 491 | 4.5% | $23,736 | 4.3% | $48,342 |
| Nonfarm Proprietors | 2,391 | 21.9% | $42,936 | 7.7% | $17,957 |
| Farm | 542 | 5.0% | $26,356 | 4.7% | $48,627 |
| Nonfarm | 10,391 | 95.0% | $529,261 | 95.3% | $50,935 |
| Private | 9,161 | 83.8% | $462,633 | 83.3% | $50,500 |
| Accommodation, Food Serv. | 672 | 6.1% | $15,488 | 2.8% | $23,048 |
| Arts, Ent., Recreation | 100 | 0.9% | $1,270 | 0.2% | $12,700 |
| Construction | 566 | 5.2% | $22,211 | 4.0% | $39,242 |
| Health Care, Social Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Information | 78 | 0.7% | $3,745 | 0.7% | $48,013 |
| Manufacturing | 2,896 | 26.5% | $236,944 | 42.6% | $81,818 |
| Professional, Tech. Serv. | Data not available due to BEA non-disclosure requirements. |
| Retail Trade | 1,257 | 11.5% | $37,979 | 6.8% | $30,214 |
| Trans., Warehousing | 425 | 3.9% | $21,392 | 3.9% | $50,334 |
| Wholesale Trade | 128 | 1.2% | $6,888 | 1.2% | $53,813 |
| Other Private (not above) | 1,818* | 16.6%* | $60,229* | 10.8%* | $33,129* |
| Government | 1,230 | 11.3% | $66,628 | 12.0% | $54,169 |
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, 2024 | Units | Pct Dist.
in County | Pct Dist.
in State | Cost ($000) | State Cost ($000) |
|---|
| Total Permits Filed | 68 | 100.0% | 100.0% | $5,900 | $8,133,071 |
| Single-Family | 68 | 100.0% | 75.4% | $5,900 | $6,951,719 |
| 2-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | 0 | $100,498 |
| 3- and 4-Family | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | $0 | $45,624 |
| 5+ Family | 0 | 0.0% | 21.9% | $0 | $1,035,231 |
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 2024 | Percent of County |
|---|
| Brazil | 8,239 | 31.2% |
| Carbon | 258 | 1.0% |
| Center Point | 211 | 0.8% |
| Clay City | 884 | 3.3% |
| Harmony | 673 | 2.5% |
| Knightsville | 694 | 2.6% |
| Staunton | 468 | 1.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimates
Hoosiers by the Numbers