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City · 29,320 residents · Johnston County, North Carolina

Clayton , North Carolina

In Clayton, a typical home is worth $329,600 and typical rent is $1,661 a month. Compared with all of Johnston County, typical rent is 45% higher, the typical home value is 8% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $329,600

    8% above the county

    14% above North Carolina

    • Clayton
    • Johnston
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,661a month

    45% above the county

    35% above North Carolina

    • Clayton
    • Johnston
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $78,822a year

    5% below the county

    9% above North Carolina

    • Clayton
    • Johnston
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    63%

    13 points below the county

    4 points below North Carolina

    • Clayton
    • Johnston
    • North Carolina

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$360,830
1.6% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,797 a month
2% more than 12 months ago

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

Clayton is in Johnston 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 Johnston County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Clayton apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Smithfield, the typical rent is $658: 60% less than in Clayton ($1,661).

  2. The typical rent in Clayton is $1,661 a month, 45% more than in Johnston County as a whole ($1,146).

  3. Nearby, in Smithfield, the typical home value is $242,500: 26% less than in Clayton ($329,600).

  4. 63% of households in Clayton own their home, against 76% in Johnston County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Clayton

What homes there are in Clayton, 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

The detached house is the most common home in Clayton: 74% of homes, near the figure in Johnston County (76%).

Year built

The typical home in Clayton was built in 2006, 6 years after the typical one in Johnston County.

Homes in Clayton are smaller: 72% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Johnston County, 80%.

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

$1,803 a month

Johnston County: $1,665 a month

Without a mortgage

$651 a month

Johnston County: $494 a month

Owners with a mortgage

84%

Johnston County: 70%

In Clayton, 84% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,803 a month, against $1,665 in Johnston County. Without one it drops to $651.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Clayton rose 71%; in Johnston County, it rose 85%.

The typical rent in Clayton rose 53% over the same time; in Johnston County, it rose 34%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 26%, while home values changed +71% and rent +53%.

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

MeasureClaytonJohnston CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.8%7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.6%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.9%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.602.722.442.53
Drive alone 73%76%72%69%
Carpool 8%8%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%2%3%
Work from home 18%15%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate30 to 39 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Johnston County, a household in Clayton has 2.60 people on average.

Many people here do not commute at all: 18% work from home; in Johnston County, 15%.

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 Clayton?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Clayton, worth $329,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 41% of the typical household income in Clayton, which is $78,822 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $115,392 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Clayton. 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 $11,536 (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

$2,692

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$323,630
Total interest
$465,628
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,566 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,839 a month

  • Tight

    $1,839 to $2,365 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,365 a month

    Your payment · 41%

Compared with the typical household income in Clayton ($78,822 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,692
Principal & interest$2,192
Property tax$217
Home insurance$137
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$146

You need at least $11,536 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

Clayton and Johnston County

Clayton is in Johnston County, North Carolina. 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).

Clayton's own numbers

Typical home value
$329,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,661
Typical yearly household income
$78,822
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
0.79%

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

Numbers for all of Johnston County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,689
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+56%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.7%

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 Johnston County.

Everything about Johnston County

Buying

Buying a home in Clayton

A typical home in Clayton is worth $329,600: 8% above the county and 14% above North Carolina. With the typical household income in Clayton ($78,822 a year), a typical home costs 4.2 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.

  • Clayton 4.2 years
  • Johnston 3.7 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Johnston County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Johnston County rose 106% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.4% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +56% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +106% +107% +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

Clayton next to Johnston County, North Carolina and the U.S.

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

Typical home value
  • Clayton $329,600
  • Johnston $305,600
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Clayton $1,661
  • Johnston $1,146
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Clayton $78,822
  • Johnston $83,384
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Clayton next to Johnston County and North Carolina
Measure Clayton Johnston County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $329,600 $305,600 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,661 $1,146 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $78,822 $83,384 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 63% 76% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,597 $1,908 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.79% 0.62% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 48% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Johnston 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 Clayton

For a typical $329,600 home in Clayton, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Clayton's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,692a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,536
    Cash to close
    $21,424
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $146

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,632a month

    Down payment
    $16,480
    Cash to close
    $26,368
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $157

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,141a month

    Down payment
    $65,920
    Cash to close
    $75,808
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,445a month

    Down payment
    $49,440
    Cash to close
    $59,328
    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 Clayton and for Johnston County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Clayton

0.79%of the home’s value each year

$2,597 a year for the typical owner in Clayton.

  • Clayton 0.79%
  • Johnston 0.62%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Johnston County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.7%
486
Of those, with NFIP insurance
36%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.7% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 36% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Clayton

Typical rent in Clayton is $1,661 a month: 45% above the county. In Clayton, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Johnston County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,689 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $32.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Johnston 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 $1,489 $28.63 $59,560
1 bedroom $1,552 $29.85 $62,080
2 bedrooms $1,689 $32.48 $67,560
3 bedrooms $2,103 $40.44 $84,120
4 bedrooms $2,823 $54.29 $112,920

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 Clayton

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Clayton has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,640 in 27520 to $1,900 in 27527.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Johnston County ($1,689).

  • 27520 $1,640$2,040
  • 27527 $1,900$2,370

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Clayton 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?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Clayton

HUD lists 8 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Clayton. These are the largest.

  • Cobblers Station Apts Commodore Street, Clayton 27520 72 low-income homes · 2 bd: 48 · 3 bd: 24 · In service since 2001 · For families
  • Riverwood Haven 161 Stetson Ln, Clayton 27527 60 low-income homes · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 30 · In service since 2015 · For older adults
  • Clayton Manor Apts 500 Boling St, Clayton 27520 56 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 40 · In service since 1994 · For families
  • Lions Spring 320 Shotwell Rd, Clayton 27520 48 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · 2 bd: 24 · In service since 2009 · For older adults
  • Village Gardens 303 Dairy Rd, Clayton 27520 37 homes, 36 low-income · For older adults (919) 934-6066

See all 43 buildings in Johnston County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Clayton

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Johnston County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Clayton

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

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Clayton

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

  • Dhic, Inc.

    113 S Wilmington St, Raleigh · 14 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (919) 832-4345

  • Cccs, A Division of Triangle Family Services, Inc.

    3937 Western Blvd, Raleigh · 16 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Arabic, American Sign Language (ASL), Cambodian, Cantonese, and 17 more languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    (919) 821-0790

  • Navicore Solutions- Raleigh, NC

    4917 Waters Edge Dr, Raleigh · 17 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (866) 472-4557

All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Clayton

3 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 Clayton

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

  • Johnston County Housing Assistance Payments Program Section 8 vouchers (919) 989-5070

3 other authorities have an office in Johnston County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Johnston County

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

Everything about Johnston County Housing in North Carolina

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Johnston 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 Clayton.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Clayton

Short answers with the numbers for Clayton and all of Johnston 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 Clayton?

The typical home value in Clayton is $329,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Johnston County it is $305,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Clayton?

Typical rent in Clayton is $1,661 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Johnston County is $1,689.

What is the FHA loan limit in Clayton?

Clayton uses the FHA limit for all of Johnston 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 Clayton?

The typical homeowner in Clayton pays $2,597 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.79% of the home’s value; in Johnston County, the rate is 0.62%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Johnston County; the nearest ones are on this page. 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).