RANK #589 / 1001 NAT · #18 / 22 MO · POP 258,122
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
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.
Clay County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.7% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
Clay County scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#589). Median household income is $88,468 and job growth is running at -0.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Clay County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $275,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,243/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Clay County's population is growing — up +1.0% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.9%). Home values shifted +1.7% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.43% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Clay County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.