Population
Clayton
28,043
Central
29,603
Median Income
Clayton
$73,348
Central
$90,091
Home Value
Clayton
$292,400
Central
$270,700
Rent
Clayton
$1,542
Central
$1,373
Crime Rate
Clayton
1.68
Central
N/A
Cost of Living
Clayton
127.2
Central
130.1
Avg Temp
Clayton
N/A
Central
N/A
Unemployment
Clayton
2.0%
Central
1.2%
How Similar Are Clayton & Central?
Central is Clayton's #17 most similar city
4 of 8 key metrics match within 10%
Population
Clayton
28,043
Central
29,603
Both cities have similar populations — Clayton at 28,043 and Central at 29,603.
Political Leaning
Clayton
36.4%
Central
43.4%
Both cities lean Democratic, but Central has a stronger Democratic lean (16% difference).
Unemployment
Clayton
2.0%
Central
1.2%
Clayton has a 38% higher unemployment than Central.
Median Income
Clayton
$73,348
Central
$90,091
Central has a 19% higher median income than Clayton.
Home Values
Clayton
$292,400
Central
$270,700
Both cities have similar home values — just a 7% difference.
Education
Clayton
22.5%
Central
21.9%
Both cities have similar education — just a 3% difference.
Demographics
Clayton
60.2%
Central
79.0%
Central has a 24% higher demographics than Clayton.
Cost of Living
Clayton
127.2
Central
130.1
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.
4 out of 8 key metrics match within 10%. Clayton and Central share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
Clayton
0
Central
Clayton leads in 3 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Clayton leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDCentral has a fair market rent (1br) of $1,064 vs $1,596 in Clayton (50% lower). Central has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,204 vs $1,750 in Clayton (45% lower). Central scores 140.3 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 159.0 in Clayton.
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Central leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSCentral has a median property tax of $1,743 vs $2,565 in Clayton (47% lower). Central has a owner-occupied of 89.3% compared to 64.3% in Clayton. Clayton has a vacancy rate of 5.4% compared to 6.7% in Central.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSClayton has a work from home of 14.6% compared to 6.8% in Central. Central has a unemployment rate of 1.2% compared to 2.0% in Clayton. Central has a poverty rate of 5.7% compared to 8.1% in Clayton.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety
Source: FBI UCRViolent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauCentral has a high school diploma or higher of 44.5% compared to 38.5% in Clayton. Clayton has a bachelor's degree or higher of 22.5% compared to 21.9% in Central.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSCentral has a population of 29,603, about 1.1x the size of Clayton (28,043). Clayton skews younger with a median age of 32.7 vs 40.3.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Clayton
Central
Healthcare — Clayton leads
Source: CMS Hospital CompareClayton: 3 vs Central: 2 for with emergency services. Clayton: 4.0 vs Central: 3.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — Clayton leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSClayton has a work from home of 14.6% compared to 6.8% in Central. Central has a drive alone of 85.3% compared to 76.2% in Clayton.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to Clayton, NC
Compare Clayton against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.