Map the Block › Places › Missouri › Clay County
What are the crime rate and median income in Clay County, Missouri?
The violent-crime rate in Clay County was 2.6 per 1,000 residents (2021-2025 average, FBI), 46% lower than the statewide rate (4.7). Households here have a median income of $88,468 and the unemployment rate was 3.3% in August 2026. Population: about 258,122 (Census, 2020-2024).
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Clay County?
Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 316 violent and 2,193 property crimes per year. That is 2.6 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 46% lower than the Missouri rate (4.7), and 30% lower than the U.S. rate (3.7). Burglary, theft and car theft together come to 17.9 per 1,000 residents, compared with 21.0 across Missouri. Only about 48% of residents live in areas whose police reported a full year, so treat the rate with care. Aggravated assaults make up 71% of the violent total. CDC death records show about 10 homicide deaths a year in the county (4.2 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Clay County | Per 1,000 | Missouri per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 316 | 2.6 | 4.7 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 3 | 0.02 | 0.09 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 59 | 0.48 | 0.49 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 30 | 0.24 | 0.53 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 225 | 1.8 | 3.6 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 2,193 | 17.9 | 21.0 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 188 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,623 | 13.2 | 14.2 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 381 | 3.1 | 4.1 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (11 agencies; 48% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Clay County?
Half of households in Clay County make more than $88,468 and half make less; across Missouri the midpoint is $70,702. The typical owner-occupied home is valued at $275,600 by its owners; renters pay a median $1,243. 6.0% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 9.8%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 3.3% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 4,864 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Clay County | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 258,122 | 6,191,814 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $88,468 | $70,702 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $275,600 | $230,300 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,243 | $1,033 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 3.8% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 8.5% | 12.6% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 6.0% | 9.8% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 36.5% | 32.4% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 69.5% | 68.1% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 37.9 | 39.0 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 91.2% | 89.3% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 7.6% | 8.8% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Clay County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Clay County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are tornadoes (Relatively High) and heat waves (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
2 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Clay County: Armour Road and Lee Chemical. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
High-hazard dams
Clay County has 14 dams classed as high hazard in the National Inventory of Dams. None is rated Poor or Unsatisfactory; 3 are rated Satisfactory or Fair. The two tallest are Smithville Dam (105 ft) and Watkins Mill State Park Dam (55 ft). “High hazard” describes what lies downstream (people would probably die if the dam failed), not how likely the dam is to fail.
Industrial chemical releases
20 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 1,314,862 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
Clay County was covered by 1 federal major disaster declaration from 2016 through 2025 (Severe Storm 1), not counting COVID-19. EPA air monitors logged 4 days in 2024 when the air quality index reached “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse. Of 20 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 1 (highest). NHTSA counted 29 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 2 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Clay County?
The state DOT feed had no interstate, U.S. or state highway work zones in Clay County on October 11, 2026. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel. The map's layer refreshes every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Clay County?
Clay County has 80 public schools (2024-25) and 10 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 10 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 21 fire or EMS stations and 8 police or sheriff stations. 1 state park or recreation area: Watkins Woolen Mill State Park.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Clay County
Gun shops
14 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Clay County (13 from the ATF licensee list, 1 from OpenStreetMap), plus 25 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 3 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Academy Sports + Outdoors # 258 (Liberty), American Gold Mine (Kansas City), B-Tac Arms LLC (Smithville), Bosserts Military Surplus (Kansas City), Burton's Bait And Tackle LLC (Smithville), Cash America Pawn (Gladstone), Great Guns (Liberty), James Country Mercantile INC (Liberty) and 5 more.
Liquor stores
41 liquor stores are on the map in Clay County: Armour Spirits & Wine (North Kansas City), Bubbles Wine & Spirits (Gladstone), Claycomo Mart (Claycomo), Cloud 9 Convenience 4305 (Kansas City), Cloud 9 Liquor 121 (Kansas City), Discount Liquor & Smokes (Kansas City), Discount Liquor And Smokes (Gladstone), Discount Smokes & Liquor (Claycomo) and 33 more.
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map in Clay County: Planned Parenthood Great Plains-Gladstone (Gladstone).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Clay County?
Clay County averaged 316 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 2.6 per 1,000 residents, 46% lower than the Missouri rate (4.7). The property-crime rate was 17.9 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Clay County?
$88,468 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $70,702 for Missouri and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Clay County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 3.3% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 4,864 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Clay County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Clay County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. Among the hazards we show, the highest-rated are tornadoes (Relatively High) and heat waves (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Clay County?
2 Superfund sites are on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Clay County: Armour Road and Lee Chemical.
Is there road construction in Clay County right now?
The state DOT feed had no interstate, U.S. or state highway work zones in Clay County on October 11, 2026. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel.
How many nursing homes are in Clay County?
10 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Clay County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton County | 21,414 | 1.9 | $70,627 |
| Jackson County | 719,976 | 9.8 | $68,577 |
| Platte County | 110,371 | 2.0 | $96,227 |
| Ray County | 23,145 | 5.9 | $74,573 |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 167,654 | 9.7 | $63,631 |
Cities in Clay County with their own page: Kansas City.
More: Missouri statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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