Clay County
IA · Pop. 16,446 · Suburban County
Clay County, Iowa covers 567 square miles with a population of 16,446 and a density of 29 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on corn, soybeans, hay. The median home price is $172,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.18%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 151-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.7°F and average winter lows of 9.8°F. Annual rainfall averages 29.5 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Spencer Municipal Hospital is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $172,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Spencer Municipal Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 4.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on corn, soybeans, hay means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.2% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A 151-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Average winter lows of 9.8°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
At a glance
Clay County, IA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 69/100
- Median home price
- $172k
- Property tax
- 1.18%
- Growing season
- 151 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 29.5"
- Broadband
- 99.1%
- Nearest hospital
- Spencer Municipal Hospital, 4.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Clay County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Clay County?
- Clay County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 151-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.7°F, and average winter lows of 9.8°F. The established crops are corn, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $172,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.18%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 99.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Spencer Municipal Hospital is 4.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Iowa
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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