CountyScore

Clayton County

Iowa · IA

#55 in Iowa
69.4
County Score

County Report Card

About Clayton County, Iowa

Right at Iowa's average, above national baseline

Clayton County's composite score of 69.4 is 39% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the solid upper-middle range of U.S. counties. The score reflects balanced performance across livability dimensions.

Meeting Iowa's state average almost exactly

At 69.4, Clayton County nearly matches Iowa's state average of 69.3, ranking it squarely in the middle tier of Iowa counties. The county offers typical Iowa quality of life with no major outliers.

Affordable housing and solid health access

Clayton County excels with a Cost Score of 82.2—among the highest in this group—offering $155,700 median home value and $764/month rent. A Health Score of 77.3 indicates good healthcare access and outcomes for the region.

Lower incomes and modest economic resilience

The county's Income Score of 24.1 and median household income of $62,326 are the lowest among these eight counties, reflecting limited wage growth. A Risk Score of 57.8 suggests moderate economic volatility that warrants monitoring.

Suitable for budget-first families and retirees

Clayton County appeals to retirees with fixed incomes, families prioritizing housing affordability over wages, and remote workers seeking low cost of living. It offers solid, unremarkable quality of life at an attractive price point.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax63.4Cost82.2SafetyComing SoonHealth77.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.1Risk57.8WaterComing Soon
🏛63.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.1
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤77.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡57.8
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Clayton County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Baxter County
Arkansas
69.4
Median income: $48,427
Desha County
Arkansas
69.4
Median income: $36,064
Bleckley County
Georgia
69.4
Median income: $53,005
Dawson County
Georgia
69.4
Median income: $88,986
Lamar County
Georgia
69.4
Median income: $68,457

Deep Dives

Clayton County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Clayton County

via TaxByCounty

Clayton County runs above-average taxes

At 1.380%, Clayton County's effective tax rate exceeds the national median of 1.347% by roughly 3%, placing it around the 55th percentile nationally. The county's $2,149 median property tax is 20% below the national median of $2,690.

Slightly above Iowa's state average

Clayton County's effective rate of 1.380% runs just above Iowa's state average of 1.344%, making it a modest above-average tax county. The median property tax of $2,149 sits just below the state median of $2,160.

Middle tier in northeast Iowa

Clayton County's 1.380% rate places it squarely between low-tax Cherokee (1.076%) and high-tax Clinton (1.549%) in northeastern Iowa. The county offers reasonable taxes compared to upstate neighbors but slightly more than the statewide average.

Near-state-average tax bill

On Clayton County's median home value of $155,700, the 1.380% effective rate works out to $2,149 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, you'd owe closer to $2,205; without, approximately $2,087.

Appeals work for every tax level

Homeowners in moderate-tax counties like Clayton shouldn't skip the appeal process—even a 5% reduction in assessed value saves $75–$110 yearly. Iowa's informal review gives all residents a free opportunity to verify their assessment's fairness.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Clayton County

via CostByCounty

Clayton County housing strains lower-income earners

Clayton County's rent-to-income ratio of 14.7% sits above Iowa's state average of 14.1%, and median household income of $62,326 ranks lowest in this eight-county group. Housing consumes a disproportionately large share of already-tight household budgets here.

Below-average affordability, below-average wages

Clayton's 14.7% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Iowa's state average of 14.1%, and its median household income of $62,326 is among the state's lowest. This combination creates particular affordability pressure for renters and those seeking homeownership.

Moderate rents, lowest wages in region

Clayton's $764 rent is mid-range regionally, but its median household income of $62,326 is the lowest among these eight counties. This wage disadvantage makes any given rent level feel more burdensome, even when absolute prices are reasonable.

Housing absorbs nearly 15% of income

Clayton renters pay $764 monthly while homeowners spend $826, consuming 14.7% and 15.9% of median income respectively. With median home values of $155,700 and the region's lowest wages, ownership is particularly challenging for typical households.

Clayton County: affordable if you earn well

Relocating to Clayton County makes sense primarily if you're securing employment with above-county-median wages—housing costs are manageable only when income significantly exceeds the local $62,326 average. Compare against Cherokee or Crawford if staying within the region and prioritizing affordability.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Clayton County

via IncomeByCounty

Clayton trails national household income

Clayton County's median household income of $62,326 lags the U.S. median of $74,755 by 16.6%, placing it among the lower-income counties nationwide. This significant gap underscores the economic challenges rural northeastern Iowa faces relative to national wage trends.

Lowest income in this eight-county group

Clayton's $62,326 median income ranks lowest among these eight counties and trails Iowa's state average of $69,830 by $7,504. Its per capita income of $35,661 falls below the state average of $37,136, signaling income concentration and limited earning capacity for many residents.

Struggles against regional income trends

At $62,326, Clayton sits at the bottom of this cluster—$10,000+ below Chickasaw's $73,421 and $4,000 below several peers. The county faces structural economic headwinds that require targeted workforce development or industry diversification to improve household earnings.

Housing affordability provides relief

Clayton's 14.7% rent-to-income ratio offers meaningful affordability relief, keeping housing costs manageable despite lower overall income. A median home value of $155,700 remains within reach for median-earning families, providing a stable foundation for building wealth.

Clayton households: start small, build consistent

Earning $62,326, Clayton households must prioritize high-impact, low-cost wealth strategies: maximize employer 401(k) matches first, then establish an automated monthly transfer of $100–$200 to a diversified index fund. Over 30 years, consistent $150 monthly contributions compound into $100,000+, offsetting modest current income growth.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Clayton County

via HealthByCounty

Highest life expectancy in the region

Clayton County residents live an average of 79.1 years, about 0.8 years above the U.S. average of 78.3 years. The county's 15.5% poor or fair health rate sits below the national average of 15%, demonstrating strong population health.

Iowa's healthiest county in this group

At 79.1 years, Clayton County's life expectancy leads the entire group and significantly exceeds Iowa's 77.7-year state average. This outstanding performance reflects decades of strong community health practices and effective healthcare delivery.

Sparse mental health provider access

Despite strong life expectancy, Clayton County has only 24 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—a critical gap for a county of its health standing. Residents needing psychiatric or counseling services frequently travel to neighboring counties with better-equipped mental health infrastructure.

Good insurance coverage, provider concerns

Clayton's 6.6% uninsured rate is slightly above Iowa's 5.7% average, and while most residents have coverage, mental health provider shortages limit its effectiveness. At 41 primary care providers per 100K, the county has adequate routine care access but struggles to support mental health needs.

Insurance enables care coordination

Clayton residents without coverage should enroll through Healthcare.gov or Iowa Medicaid to secure comprehensive access. With insurance in place, you can work with primary care providers to coordinate mental health referrals to better-equipped neighboring facilities.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Clayton County

via RiskByCounty

Clayton County ranks very low nationally

Clayton's composite risk score of 42.21 hovers slightly above Iowa's state average (39.68), positioning it in the low-risk tier nationally. The county experiences modest natural disaster exposure relative to most American regions.

Slightly above state average

Clayton ranks in the middle range of Iowa's 99 counties with its 42.21 score, sitting just above the state average. This reflects below-average exposure to most hazards compared to Iowa's riskier counties.

Higher risk than neighboring counties

Clayton's 42.21 score exceeds nearby Chickasaw (31.74) and Cherokee (34.13), though it remains well below Clinton (64.82). Its location in northeast Iowa's more active flood zone explains this comparative positioning.

Flood and tornado dominate exposure

Flood risk reaches 58.02 in Clayton—well above state average—while tornado risk of 53.98 creates a dual-hazard situation typical of the county's geography. Wildfire (12.34) and earthquake (14.47) risks remain minimal.

Prioritize flood and windstorm insurance

Clayton residents in flood-prone areas must obtain separate flood insurance, as standard policies exclude water damage entirely. Adding windstorm coverage protects against the tornado risk that regularly threatens this northeast Iowa county.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.