States › North Carolina › Clayton

Is Clayton, NC expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 27 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,8797% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$85,010about $7,084/month · 2% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$329,6001% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 62% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.9 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 31.1 minutes each way.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $75,160 a year. That is $36 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other North Carolina cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of North Carolina. It is number 123 of 164 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Clayton
$1,879
Leland
$1,968
Statesville
$1,291
Matthews
$1,877
Kernersville
$1,526
Asheboro
$1,082
Mint Hill
$1,464

How much do households earn in Clayton?

Under $25k
10.7%
$25k–50k
20.5%
$50k–100k
39.9%
$100k–150k
20.2%
$150k+
6.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 26.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Clayton

SizeClaytonU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,404$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,657$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,921$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,260$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Clayton overall?

Everyday prices in North Carolina overall are 6% below the U.S. average (index 94.3, U.S. = 100).

Housing
81
Goods (food, clothes…)
97
Utilities
89
Other services
98
U.S. average
100

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

Taxes and bills in Clayton

🏛️ Property tax$2,597a year · 0.79% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$182a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Clayton

Commute to work31.1 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree40.4%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home62.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line5.9%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.8%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Clayton?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $408 a month less.

Renting
$1,879
Owning
$2,287

Owning assumes a typical $329,600 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $32,960 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Clayton, NC?

Renting in Clayton costs a median of about $1,879 a month in 2026, including utilities. The North Carolina median is $1,496.

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

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $75,160 a year, or $36 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Clayton cheap or expensive?

Clayton is rated OK: rent takes 26.5% of the typical household income of $85,010. It ranks 123rd cheapest of 164 North Carolina cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Clayton?

The median homeowner in Clayton pays $2,597 a year in property taxes, about 0.79% of the median home value.

Is Clayton more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in North Carolina are 6% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Clayton?

The median home value in Clayton is $329,600, about 3.9 times the typical yearly household income.

29,320 people live in Clayton. Numbers are typical (middle) values.