Clay County, South Dakota
Among the top 17% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 57% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade D, better than 24% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 40% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 83% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 54% of US counties
- top 4% for cost of living
- top 7% for commute time
- bottom 5% for school quality
Clay County is a county in South Dakota with about 15,000 residents. It grades B+ for getting around and D for weather. Standout strengths include cost of living, commute time, and broadband access. It rates lower on unemployment and school quality.
Official websiteclaycountysd.org (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
freez.
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79%57%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.6 in0.7 in
humid 88%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$56k36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$41kbetter than 96% of US counties
Home Value$209k71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$758better than 65% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 24% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.30%better than 22% of US counties
Income Tax0.04%better than 83% of US counties
Sales Tax6.11%better than 78% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden6.91%better than 82% of US counties
Unemployment8.2%better than 10% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)19°F12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F35th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation27.7 in22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall34.5 inbetter than 25% of US counties
Sunny Days235 daysbetter than 48% of US counties
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 63% of US counties
Comfortable Days73 daysbetter than 33% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk20.5better than 78% of US counties
Air Quality43 AQIbetter than 49% of US counties
School Quality32.5better than 5% of US counties
Violent Crime630/100kbetter than 60% of US counties
Property Crime1337/100kbetter than 31% of US counties
Community
Population14,95333rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age24.60th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.2445th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9726th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1112th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)86.2%61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.7%47th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.2%20th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.0%89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)6.9%89th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time17 minbetter than 93% of US counties
Walkability6.9/20better than 74% of US counties
Airport Distance123 mibetter than 36% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access89.8%better than 87% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.67better than 32% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 42% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Clay County an affordable place to live?
- Clay County is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $41k, better than 96% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Clay County?
- The median home value in Clay County is $209k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Clay County?
- Median household income in Clay County is $56k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Clay County?
- Median gross rent in Clay County is $758 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Clay County safe?
- Clay County is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 630/100k (better than 60%). Property crime is 1337/100k.
- What is the weather like in Clay County?
- Clay County averages 75°F in July and 19°F in January, with 27.7 in of annual precipitation and about 235 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Clay County?
- Public-school quality in Clay County is below average, scoring better than 5% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Clay County?
- The average one-way commute in Clay County is 17 min.
Other counties in South Dakota
Explore South Dakota
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)