In Clayton County, Iowa, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Clayton County, 14.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 92% of U.S. counties.
What drives Clayton County's score
In Clayton County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 32.9. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 8.2. About one in four people (26.1%, Q2 2026) has a subprime credit score, a lower share than in 95% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Clayton County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Clayton County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 32.9 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent19.9% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income14.3% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
-
- 31.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.7% · 202419th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.8% · 202421st percentile
- People with a disability14.7% · 2020 to 202437th percentile
- People without health insurance8.4% · 2020 to 202454th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$77,983 · 202423rd percentile
-
- 26.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202641st percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working13.9% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
-
- 13.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector12.1% · August 20258th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people70.7 · 202519th percentile
-
- 8.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.1% · August 202512th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.3% · August 20257th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score26.1% · second quarter of 20265th or lower percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Clayton County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Clayton County, 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Clayton County
Iowa
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Clayton County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 23.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Clayton County, Iowa, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 23.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Clayton County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 10.0% in 2019 to 8.4% in 2020.
The share of households in Clayton County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen to 6.7%
Low on the chart: 6.2% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Clayton County, Iowa.
How Clayton County has changed
Clayton County's population had its largest drop, from 20,506 in 1984 to 19,218 in 1989.
Clayton County's population fell by about a fifth to 16,931, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 21,620 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Clayton County, Iowa.
The number of jobs located in Clayton County rose most sharply from its first year (5,452 in 1990) to 6,611 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Clayton County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 13% since
High on the chart: 7,094 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Clayton County, Iowa.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.6% | 2025 4.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 12.3% | 2024 9.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $22,326 | 2024 $77,983 |
The table uses 4.3% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Clayton County's history
1837
Formed on December 21, 1837. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 27,750. The 2020 Census counted 17,043, 61% of the peak. Census Bureau
1985
A tornado in May 1985 did $25 million in property damage and killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flood in June 2008 did $4.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flood in June 2008 did $3.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2019
A flood in March 2019 did $2.03 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1965
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Clayton County, 24 of them for flooding. FEMA
Clayton County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Clayton County, in Iowa and Wisconsin, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Clayton County ranks 5th of the seven; Crawford County is highest, at 29.6%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County, WI | 19 | 12.9% | 29.6% |
| Fayette County, IA | 19 | 12.9% | 28.7% |
| Allamakee County, IA | 13 | 10.5% | 24.2% |
| Dubuque County, IA | 12 | 11.0% | 19.4% |
| Grant County, WI | 9 | 11.9% | 24.0% |
| Clayton County, IA | 7 | 9.7% | 23.8% |
| Delaware County, IA | 2 | 8.5% | 19.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Clayton County the poorest county in Iowa?
No, Clayton County's poverty rate was 9.7% in 2024, 69th highest of 99 in Iowa (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Decatur County, at 18.1%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Clayton County ranks 66th of 99 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Clayton County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Iowa Legal Aid
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Clayton County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Clayton County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.