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City · 10,273 residents · Jefferson County, Alabama

Clay , Alabama

In Clay, a typical home is worth $220,600 and typical rent is $2,240 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, typical rent is 88% higher, typical household income is 23% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 27 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $220,600

    8% below the county

    5% above Alabama

    • Clay
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical rent

    $2,240a month

    88% above the county

    122% above Alabama

    • Clay
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Typical household income

    $81,920a year

    23% above the county

    28% above Alabama

    • Clay
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

  • Households that own their home

    91%

    27 points above the county

    20 points above Alabama

    • Clay
    • Jefferson
    • Alabama

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$248,722
0.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,680 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Clay is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Clay apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Clay has the highest typical rent of the 117 cities in Alabama with more than 5,000 people: $2,240.

  2. 91% of households in Clay own their home, against 64% in Jefferson County.

  3. Nearby, in Springville, the typical rent is $834: 63% less than in Clay ($2,240).

  4. Nearby, in Grayson Valley, the typical home value is $148,400: 33% less than in Clay ($220,600).

  5. The typical household income in Clay is $81,920, 23% more than in Jefferson County as a whole ($66,388).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Clay

What homes there are in Clay, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Clay, 9 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Jefferson County, 7.

Year built

The typical home in Clay was built in 1994, 19 years after the typical one in Jefferson County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,439 a month

Jefferson County: $1,619 a month

Without a mortgage

$464 a month

Jefferson County: $533 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Jefferson County: 60%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Clay is $1,439 a month, less than in Jefferson County ($1,619); without one, $464.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Clay gained value more slowly than in Jefferson County: 42% since 2015–2019, against 51%.

The typical rent in Clay rose 164% over the same time; in Jefferson County, it rose 33%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureClayJefferson CountyAlabamaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate7.0%7.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.2%1.1%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.6%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.742.402.482.53
Drive alone 89%77%81%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%1%3%
Work from home 6%11%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Clay are bigger: 2.74 people on average; in Jefferson County, 2.40.

In Clay, 89% of workers drive alone to work; in Jefferson County, 77%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Clay?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Clay, worth $220,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 26% of the typical household income in Clay, which is $81,920 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Clay. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $7,721 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,754

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$216,604
Total interest
$311,643
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,725 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,911 a month

    Your payment · 26%

  • Tight

    $1,911 to $2,458 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,458 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Clay ($81,920 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,754
Principal & interest$1,467
Property tax$97
Home insurance$92
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$98

You need at least $7,721 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Clay and Jefferson County

Clay is in Jefferson County, Alabama. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Clay's own numbers

Typical home value
$220,600
Typical monthly rent
$2,240
Typical yearly household income
$81,920
Households that own their home
91%
Effective property tax rate
0.53%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,375
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+38%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Clay

A typical home in Clay is worth $220,600: 8% below the county and 5% above Alabama. With the typical household income in Clay ($81,920 a year), a typical home costs 2.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Clay 2.7 years
  • Jefferson 3.6 years
  • Alabama 3.3 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 73% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Alabama U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.2% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +38% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +73% +77% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Clay next to Jefferson County, Alabama and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Clay $220,600
  • Jefferson $240,000
  • Alabama $209,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Clay $2,240
  • Jefferson $1,193
  • Alabama $1,007
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Clay $81,920
  • Jefferson $66,388
  • Alabama $63,999
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Clay next to Jefferson County and Alabama
Measure Clay Jefferson County Alabama U.S.
Typical home value $220,600 $240,000 $209,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,240 $1,193 $1,007 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $81,920 $66,388 $63,999 $80,734
Households that own their home 91% 64% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,162 $1,409 $788 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.53% 0.59% 0.38% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Clay

For a typical $220,600 home in Clay, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Clay's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,754a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,721
    Cash to close
    $14,339
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $98

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,714a month

    Down payment
    $11,030
    Cash to close
    $17,648
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $105

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,385a month

    Down payment
    $44,120
    Cash to close
    $50,738
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,589a month

    Down payment
    $33,090
    Cash to close
    $39,708
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Clay and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Clay

0.53%of the home’s value each year

$1,162 a year for the typical owner in Clay.

  • Clay 0.53%
  • Jefferson 0.59%
  • Alabama 0.38%

What Alabama publishes Basic homestead exemption (type H-1) (Alabama Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Alabama

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
5,592
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Alabama U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 3.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 29% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Clay

Typical rent in Clay is $2,240 a month: 88% above the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,375 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $26.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,177 $22.63 $47,080
1 bedroom $1,263 $24.29 $50,520
2 bedrooms $1,375 $26.44 $55,000
3 bedrooms $1,727 $33.21 $69,080
4 bedrooms $1,941 $37.33 $77,640

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Clay

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Clay is in ZIP code 35126.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,550: $175 more than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($1,375).

  • 35126 $1,550$1,950

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Clay when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Clay

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Clay

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Clay or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Alabama: they work in Clay the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Alabama

  • Step Up

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority program with down payment assistance of 4% of the price (up to $10,000) as a 10-year second mortgage, alongside a 30-year fixed mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • First Step Mortgage Revenue Bonds

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority 30-year low-rate mortgage, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, with down payment assistance of 4% of the price, up to $10,000, as a ten-year second mortgage. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • Affordable Income Subsidy Grant

    Statewide in Alabama

    Alabama state authority grant for closing costs with an HFA Advantage conventional loan: 1% of the loan if you earn up to 50% of the area median, or half a percent if you earn 50% to 80%. Offered by Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Clay

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Clay, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • United Way of Central Alabama, Inc.

    3600 8th Ave S, Birmingham · 15 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (205) 458-8950

  • Operation Hope- Birmingham Al

    2100 Park Pl, Birmingham · 16 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (205) 478-0557

  • Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham, Inc.

    601 19th St N, Birmingham · 16 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (205) 328-4292

Every agency in Jefferson County All counseling agencies in Alabama

Help in Spanish near Clay

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Clay

HUD’s record names them for Clay or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Jefferson County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (205) 849-0123

5 other authorities have an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Jefferson County

These cities are also in Jefferson County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Alabama
See 9 more cities in Jefferson County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Clay, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Clay.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Clay

Short answers with the numbers for Clay and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Clay?

The typical home value in Clay is $220,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $240,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Clay?

Typical rent in Clay is $2,240 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $1,375.

What is the FHA loan limit in Clay?

Clay uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Clay?

The typical homeowner in Clay pays $1,162 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.53% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 0.59%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Clay?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).