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Spencer, IA

Cost of living in Clay County, IA

Estimated monthly cost
$2,712/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 16,446 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $697 26%
Federal tax $490 18%
Healthcare $480 18%
Transport $320 12%
Groceries $315 12%
Energy $195 7%
State tax $165 6%
Water $50 2%

Rent in Clay County

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$646
per month
1 bedroom
$697
per month
2 bedroom
$877
per month
3 bedroom
$1,158
per month
4 bedroom
$1,163
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Clay County

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$64,082
per year
Individual earnings
$40,049
per year
Per capita
$37,963
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Clay County

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$171,500
Annual property tax
$2,028

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Clay County

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$134
per month · 15.8¢/kWh
Natural gas
$61
per month
Annual total
$2,340
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Clay County

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
4.6%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Clay County

State and local tax rates for Iowa.

State income tax
5.7%
Top marginal rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.9%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Clay County

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
19.1 min
Drive alone
78.9%
Public transit
1.1%
Work from home
6.5%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Clay County

What it costs to live in Clay County each month.

Single person
$2,712
per month
  • Rent $697
  • Energy $195
  • Water $50
  • Groceries $315
  • Transport $320
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $490
  • State tax $165
Couple
$3,975
per month
  • Rent $877
  • Energy $234
  • Water $60
  • Groceries $522
  • Transport $420
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $719
  • State tax $279
Family
$6,380
per month
  • Rent $1,158
  • Energy $292
  • Water $70
  • Groceries $792
  • Transport $520
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $719
  • State tax $279

Frequently asked questions about Clay County

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Clay County?

In Clay County, IA, a one-bedroom apartment averages $697 per month, a two-bedroom averages $877 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,158 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Clay County?

In Clay County, IA, the average household income is $64,082 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $40,049 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Clay County?

The estimated cost of living in Clay County, IA is approximately $2,712 per month for a single person, $3,975 for a couple, $6,380 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Clay County?

The combined sales tax rate in Clay County, IA is 6.94%, which includes the Iowa state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.94%.

Is Clay County an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Clay County, IA would need approximately $2,712 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $64,082 per year ($5,340 per month). Clay County has a moderate cost of living relative to local earnings.

How much does healthcare cost in Clay County?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Clay County, IA is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 4.6% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Clay County?

The average home value in Clay County, IA is $171,500, with average annual property taxes of $2,028, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Clay County compare to other areas?

You can compare Clay County, IA with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Clay County is in the Spencer, IA metro area.

Other counties in Iowa

Browse the full list of counties in Iowa, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Iowa

Compare Clay County with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources