Clay County, North Carolina Housing Market
In Clay County, North Carolina, the median home value is $278,400, with a median monthly rent of $804. This places Clay County at #736 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #28 within North Carolina.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $942
- Establishments: 334
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 108
- Multi-family: 0
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 4,769 (avg $75,691)
- Outflow: 4,178 (avg $71,192)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 2 active ZIP codes in Clay County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28904 | 279.4 | +4.89% | 2025 |
| 2 | 28734 | 272.9 | +2.98% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
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💰 Mortgage Guide → 🧾 Property Tax Data →How Clay County Compares
| Metric | Clay County | North Carolina Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $278,400 | $235,312 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $804 | $976 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 81.2% | 71.8% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 28.9 | 19.8 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Clay County is 18.3% above the North Carolina state average and 22.3% above the U.S. national average. The median rent of $804/month is 17.6% below the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 28.9, Clay County is a strongly rent-favored market. Home prices are high relative to rents, meaning renting is typically far cheaper than owning in the near term.
Clay County has an owner-occupancy rate of 81.2%, compared to 71.8% in North Carolina and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more homeowner-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bandera County | Texas | $278,400 | $1,149 |
| Humboldt County | Nevada | $278,300 | $994 |
| Banks County | Georgia | $278,100 | $827 |
| Washington County | Idaho | $278,100 | $938 |
| White County | Georgia | $278,900 | $1,032 |
Other Counties in North Carolina
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haywood County | $279,200 | $1,067 | 74.9% |
| Franklin County | $284,300 | $1,083 | 78.6% |
| Madison County | $284,600 | $780 | 77.5% |
| Jackson County | $284,700 | $904 | 60.8% |
| Gaston County | $266,000 | $1,153 | 66.8% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).