City Report · AL

Clay

Pop. 10,273·22nd most expensive in Alabama·Rental market data updated monthly for Clay, AL

Median rent (all units)

$1,680/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

-$252

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Clay · $1,680

More affordable than 63% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

25% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,680/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$67,000/yr

Local median income

$81,920/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Clay's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

3 BR

$1,680

Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Clay's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Alabama

Rent in Clay changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.3%.

Cheaper nearby

Talladega, 16 miles away, rents for 44% less ($942/mo), about $8,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Clay.

Annual cost

$20,160/yr

At $1,680/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.4% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Clay, AL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 23.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

10,273

Median income

$81,920

Median age

39.9

Renters

9.5%

Age distribution

28.2%

16.6%

24.4%

18.9%

Under 1828.2%

18–3416.6%

35–5424.4%

55–6412%

65+18.9%

Gender

46.9%

53.1%

Male46.9%

Female53.1%

Race & ethnicity

47.9%

43%

White47.9%

Black43%

Hispanic3.4%

Asian2.5%

Other3.2%

Education (25+)

31.1%

38.8%

23.2%

No HS diploma6.9%

HS diploma31.1%

Some college38.8%

Bachelor's+23.2%

Housing tenure

90.5%

Owner90.5%

Renter9.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Clay, AL has changed in 5 years

Income

$74,265 → $81,920

up 10.3%

Population

10,320 → 10,273

down 0.5%

Renter share

11.8% → 9.5%

-2.3 pts

Bachelor's+

20.5% → 23.2%

+2.7 pts

On the earnings side, the typical household in Clay, AL now reports about $81,920, up from $74,265 in 2021. The renter share has eased from 11.8% to 9.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 20.5% to 23.2% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Clay

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View Clay rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Clay on your salary?

At $1,680/mo, how Clay rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $81,253/yr · Rent = 24.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $57,689/yr · Rent = 34.9% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $66,452/yr · Rent = 30.3% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $118,775/yr · Rent = 17% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $151,764/yr · Rent = 13.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $54,017/yr · Rent = 37.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $48,771/yr · Rent = 41.3% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $60,114/yr · Rent = 33.5% income

stretched

By apartment size

Clay rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Clay. Click any size for full breakdown.

3-Bedroom

$1,680/mo

Local insights

Tips for renters in Clay

About renting in Clay, AL

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Clay is $1,680/mo as of October 2026. and 3-bedroom units go for $1,680/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($81,920/yr), Clay ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Clay?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,680/mo in Clay. The local median household income is $81,920/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Clay?

Rent in Clay has risen 2.4% over the past year.

How does Clay rent compare to other cities in Alabama?

Clay is one of the pricier among Alabama cities for rent, ranking #22 of 66 tracked cities at $1,680/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Clay changed +2.4%, against a typical +3.3% across the 48 Alabama cities Zillow tracks.