Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Employment
The combination of higher than average median home income, income per capita and low unemployment rates results in a score that is well above average in the employment category.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Ratings
Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Clay is a smaller city located in the state of Alabama. The city has a population of 9,936 residents. When traveling to work, spending unnecessary time in your vehicle is not ideal and downright frustrating. Across all of America, the average one way commute time is 26 minutes, unfortunately, living in Clay offers up a higher than average one way commute time of 33 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Clay is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in Alabama, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Clay, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, commute, health & safety, education, employment and more.
With a livability score of 72 out of 100, Clay is ranked #4,718 in the United States and #18 in Alabama. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Clay scores well for crime (B-), cost of living (A-), employment (A-) and housing (A-) The bad news for Clay, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F).
The Clay unemployment rate of 1.33% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.
Finding affordable real estate and housing in Clay can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.
Assuming that Clay meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Clay. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Clay are simply unattainable. The median home price for Clay homes is $156,300, which is 21.6% higher than the Alabama average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Clay, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 2.3, which is 20.7% lower than the Alabama average.
| Statistic | Clay | Alabama | National |
| Average one way commute | 33min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 86.4% | 85.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 11.4% | 8.8% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.0% | 1.1% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 2.3% | 2.9% | 4.6% |
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