The typical owner-occupied home in Clay County is worth about $155,600, 35% below the Nebraska median of $238,600 and 53% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,870 a year in property taxes, about 1.20% of their home's value, lower than the Nebraska rate of 1.49%. The median household earns $78,986 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.1 times for Nebraska). 82% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Clay County at a glance
| Clay County | Nebraska | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,600 | $238,600 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,870 | $3,549 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.20% | 1.49% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $78,986 | $76,475 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 82% | 67% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 42% | 58% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,330 | $1,736 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 16.5% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $645 | $1,072 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 20.3% | 27.9% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1954 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 11.6% | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| Population | 6,095 | 1,978,707 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Clay County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Clay County home of $155,600 with 20% down costs about $1,058 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,317, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $45,335 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Clay County household income of $78,986; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $271,000.
The median rent here is $645 a month, so owning the median home costs about $413 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $31,120 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $124,480 |
| Principal and interest | $837 |
| Property taxes (1.20% a year) | $156 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $65 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,058 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $5,446 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $152,782 |
| Principal and interest | $1,028 |
| Property taxes (1.20% a year) | $156 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $65 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $69 |
| Total per month | $1,317 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Clay County
What is the median home value in Clay County?
About $155,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Clay County?
Homeowners pay a median $1,870 a year, which is about 1.20% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Clay County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,058 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,335 a year.
More about Clay County
- Mortgage Refinance in Clay County
- Debt Relief in Clay County
- Home Equity Loans in Clay County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data