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Clay County, FL: population growth, jobs and income

Clay County gained 2,315 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+1.0%).

Clay County had an estimated 239,593 residents in 2025, up 9.4% (20,644 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Florida as a whole (+8.7%), and the 30th fastest growth of 67 counties in Florida.

Data as of 2025 · updated

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In the Clay County report

One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Clay County, ranked against Florida and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:

  • Median gross rent$1,551/mo2020–24
  • Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.9%2020–24
  • New homes permitted, last 12 months1,3922025-10/2026-09
  • Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
  • Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
  • IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
  • Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report

What's inside: 5 pages

  1. 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
  2. 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
  3. 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
  4. 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
  5. 5 Every source and the methods
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Headline numbers

What the numbers say

Net domestic migration added 1,977 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.

Private employers had 48,303 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.7% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).

Unemployment averaged 4.1% in 2025, 1.0 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).

Builders were authorized to start 1,522 new homes in 2025, or 6.4 per 1,000 residents.

Median household income was $87,820 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +27.9% since 2016–20.

Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 228th.

Part of the Jacksonville, FL metro area.

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Clay County population by year

Resident population, July 1 estimate (Census Bureau)
YearPopulationChange
2025239,593+2,315
2024237,278+4,016
2023233,262+6,276
2022226,986+4,271
2021222,715+3,766
2020218,949–

Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.

What drove the change in Clay County

Clay County grew by 20,644 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+18,874).

Components of population change, people (Census Bureau)
Component20252020–25Share
Natural changebirths minus deaths+130−470
International migrationfrom and to other countries+225+2,157
Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties+1,977+18,874
Census adjustmentbalancing residual−17+83
Total change+2,315+20,644

Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.

How it ranks

MeasureIn FloridaAmong U.S. counties
Population growth30th of 67228th of 3,107
Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents39th of 67697th of 3,108
Private-sector job growth46th of 67908th of 3,092
Median household income5th of 67353rd of 3,107
Lowest unemployment rate16th of 671,631st of 3,108
New homes permitted per 1,000 residents33rd of 67429th of 3,005

1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.

Get the county report — $99

The County Growth and Demographics Report for Clay County, FL as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.

Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Duval County and St. Johns County reports too, $149 for all 3.

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Neighbouring counties

Over 2020–25, Clay County's population change (+9.4%) was ahead of 4 of its 5 neighbouring counties and behind 1 (St. Johns County).

Only St. Johns County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 5 neighbouring counties; Clay County's was $87,820.

Clay County, FL and its 5 neighbouring counties: public federal figures
CountyPopulation2025Population change2020–25Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025Median household income2020–24
Clay County, FL This county239,593+9.4%8.36.4$87,820
Putnam County, FL77,734+5.9%10.51.6$47,934
St. Johns County, FL346,328+25.0%36.213.7$109,839
Bradford County, FL28,307+0.3%4.92.3$63,050
Duval County, FL1,062,963+6.5%0.15.7$71,277
Baker County, FL29,737+5.8%5.24.1$79,836

Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.

All 67 Florida counties · Every state

Questions

Is Clay County growing?

Yes. Its population grew 9.4% between 2020 and 2025, about 20,644 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Florida as a whole changed +8.7% over the same years. That ranks 30th of 67 counties in Florida for population growth.

How many people moved to Clay County?

On net, about 1,977 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).

What is the unemployment rate in Clay County?

It averaged 4.1% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).

What is the population of Clay County?

About 239,593 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.

How many jobs are in Clay County?

Private employers there had 48,303 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.7% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).

What Beacon CRE covers in Florida

Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Florida county pages carry the public federal growth figures.

Clay County data alerts

Email me when Clay County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.

We use your address only to email you when new data for Clay County is out: what changed, with a link to that county's report. No newsletter, no other sales emails. Delete it any time with the link in every email. We'll email you a link to confirm first; nothing starts until you click it. Privacy notice.

Sources and method

Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.