Unemployment in Clay County, South Dakota, is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties
In Clay County, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 76% of U.S. counties.
What drives Clay County's score
In Clay County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 72.0. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 10.5. People with a car or retail loan behind: 2.0%, August 2025, lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Clay 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.
Even so, Clay County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (29.9%, 2020 to 2024) and people below the poverty line (19.3%, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 72.0 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 rent29.9% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income20.6% · fiscal year 202749th percentile
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- 55.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line19.3% · 202485th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.2% · 202434th percentile
- People with a disability13.2% · 2020 to 202423rd percentile
- People without health insurance9.1% · 2020 to 202460th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$59,556 · 202471st percentile
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- 22.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.1% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20265th or lower percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working19.0% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
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- 10.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector14.5% · August 202516th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people38.9 · 20255th percentile
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- 10.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.7% · August 20258th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.0% · August 20255th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.4% · second quarter of 202617th percentile
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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 Clay 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 Clay County, 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Clay County
South Dakota
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Clay County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 19.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Clay County, South Dakota, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 19.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Clay County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 14.0% in 2017 to 11.2% in 2018.
The share of households in Clay County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2014 and has since fallen to 9.9%
Low on the chart: 8.8% in 2019. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Clay County, South Dakota.
How Clay County has changed
Clay County's population had its largest rise, from 13,197 in 1989 to 13,782 in 1994.
Clay County's population rose 15% from 1969 to 2024, reaching its highest on the chart
High on the chart: 15,245 in 2024. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Clay County, South Dakota.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Clay County rose by about half to 6,112, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 5,343. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Clay County, South Dakota.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.4% | 2025 2.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 20.8% | 2024 19.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,071 | 2024 $59,556 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Clay County's history
1859
Opened for legal settlement in 1859, formally organized in 1862. Wikipedia
1859
Ahira A. Partridge became the first white man to settle, on 160 acres of land that now underlies Vermillion. Wikipedia
1881
The Great Flood of 1881, which washed away most of the town. Wikipedia
1882
University of Dakota so it could begin classes in 1882. Wikipedia
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 14,967, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2024
A flood in June 2024 did $6.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1969
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Clay County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Clay County beside its neighbors
Clay County scores higher than all six counties that border it, in South Dakota and Nebraska. For the share of income from benefit checks, Clay County ranks 3rd of the seven; Cedar County is highest, at 20.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County, SD | 23 | 19.3% | 19.6% |
| Yankton County, SD | 3 | 10.9% | 18.4% |
| Turner County, SD | 2 | 9.5% | 13.4% |
| Dixon County, NE | 2 | 8.9% | 19.9% |
| Union County, SD | 1 | 5.8% | 7.7% |
| Lincoln County, SD | 0 | 3.8% | 8.6% |
| Cedar County, NE | 0 | 8.7% | 20.0% |
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 Clay County the poorest county in South Dakota?
No, Clay County's poverty rate was 19.3% in 2024, 12th highest of 66 in South Dakota (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Ziebach County, at 45.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Clay County ranks 16th of 66 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Clay 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.
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East River Legal Services
Legal aid
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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.
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 Clay County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.