RANK #724 / 996 · POP 253,085 · MO
PROJECTED GROWTH: -0.1%
Liberty, Missouri, the county seat, is a notable town in Clay County, known for its historical significance, including the Liberty Jail, a site important to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Located just northeast of Kansas City, Clay County offers suburban living with urban accessibility. Commutes to Kansas City are common, with an average travel time of around 22.8 minutes for residents. The community provides access to outdoor recreation, particularly around Smithville Lake, which features over 7,000 acres of water and 175 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. Other natural amenities include the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary and various trails for hiking and biking.
Life in Clay County often appeals to families, drawn by highly-rated public schools such as Liberty School District and North Kansas City School District. The economy is driven by sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, with manufacturing being the top employer. The county has seen economic growth, with ongoing real estate development projects contributing to its changing landscape. Public transportation options, including Ride KC Bus services and specialized transit for seniors and individuals with disabilities, help connect residents throughout the county and to the wider Kansas City metropolitan area.
Below national median (4.7x)
Well below national median
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 4.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Metrobloks Data Center Campus
Metrobloks
|
$1,400M | Planned |
|
Google Data Center Campus (Project Mica)
Google
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Diode Ventures Kansas City Data Center
Diode Ventures
|
$500M | Operating |
|
Nashua Energy Storage
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
|
$450M | Proposed |
|
Clay Battery/Storage (Combined)
Unknown
|
$350M | Planned |
|
Gateway Trails Solar Project
Solis Renewables
|
$48M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Clay County has a Boom Town Index score of 27/100, ranking #724 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.3% and a median household income of $82,264, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Clay County is $237,200 with median rent at $1,133/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3468, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.3%. Home values changed +1.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.13% of Clay County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.