Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Clayton, NC

    Is Clayton a good place to live?

    Watch Clayton

    Clayton ranks #7 of 43 North Carolina cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (70/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 4.5% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $292,400
    +12.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,542
    per month
    Household income
    $73,348
    median
    Unemployment
    2.0%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Clayton

    The median home value in Clayton is $292,400 and median rent is $1,542 a month, against a median household income of $73,348. Homes cost about 4.0× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Clayton crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across North Carolina the 2025 rate was 331 violent and 1,811 property crimes per 100,000 people — #15 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Clayton, NC

    Clayton has about 28,043 residents, 2.0% unemployment and 24% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Clayton with

    Clayton vs CharlotteClayton vs RaleighClayton vs GreensboroClayton vs DurhamClayton vs Winston-SalemClayton vs FayettevilleClayton vs CaryClayton vs Wilmington

    More: Where to move in North Carolina · Best counties in North Carolina

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report