States › Alabama › Clay

Is Clay, AL expensive to live in?

ExpensiveRent takes 32 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,35734% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$88,351about $7,363/month · 1% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$220,60034% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 81% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards. Commutes are long, about 32.4 minutes each way. Most homes (90.5%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $94,280 a year. That is $45 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Alabama cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Alabama. It is number 120 of 120 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Clay
$2,357
Valley
$1,002
Rainbow City
$1,172
Pike Road
$1,739
Spanish Fort
$1,468
Saks
$945
Russellville
$721

How much do households earn in Clay?

Under $25k
22.5%
$25k–50k
19.3%
$50k–100k
36.9%
$100k–150k
14.9%
$150k+
5.8%

Share of households by yearly income. 20.7% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Clay overall?

Everyday prices in Alabama overall are 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
62
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
85
Other services
97
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Clay, so the Alabama figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Clay

🏛️ Property tax$1,162a year · 0.53% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$217a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Clay

Commute to work32.4 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree23.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home90.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line17.3%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clay?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $826 a month less than renting.

Renting
$2,357
Owning
$1,531

Owning assumes a typical $220,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $22,060 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Clay, AL?

Renting in Clay costs a median of about $2,357 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Alabama median is $1,175.

How much do I need to make to live in Clay?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $94,280 a year, or $45 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Clay cheap or expensive?

Clay is rated Expensive: rent takes 32.0% of the typical household income of $88,351. It ranks 120th cheapest of 120 Alabama cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Clay?

The median homeowner in Clay pays $1,162 a year in property taxes, about 0.53% of the median home value.

Is Clay more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Alabama are 11% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Clay?

The median home value in Clay is $220,600, about 2.5 times the typical yearly household income.

10,273 people live in Clay. Numbers are typical (middle) values.