Clayton: Demographics & People

About 4,222 people live in Clayton, in 1,195 households. Population grew 3.3% from 4,086 (2022) to 4,222 (2024). Median age 37.1 years. (1.7y younger than Kent County). Children under 18 are 30% of the population. Population is 46% Black and 37% White (non-Hispanic). The community is highly diverse (Simpson index 0.60). 79% of households are family-led. County is gaining 4,137 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 15% smoke.

Population & Trend

Population grew 3.3% from 4,086 (2022) to 4,222 (2024) — about 5.6× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~4,363 (extrapolated at 1.7%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 4,557.

Census data vintage2024
Population181,851 people
Annual growth rate · Population change3.3%
Annual growth rate · Population (2022)4,086
Annual growth rate · Population (2024)4,222
Annual growth rate · Population growingYes
Annual growth rate · Trend categorygrowing
Population4,222 people (vs Delaware 13,439) population: 6 observations from 2026-04-17 to 2026-04-29
Population Estimate4,557

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Age Distribution

Median age 37.1y is 1.8 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 30% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.

Age Summary · Median age37.1 years (at Delaware median)
Age Summary · Children Pct29.5%
Age Summary · Characterfamily-oriented
Age Summary · Total Pop4,222
Age Summary · Under 181,245
Age Summary · 18 To 34760.0×
Age Summary · 35 To 641,817.0×
Age Summary · 65 Plus400
Population under 181,245
Median age37.1 years (at Delaware median)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-29

Race, Ethnicity & Diversity

Of 4,222 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.60 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as highly diverse.

White residents1,817
Black residents1,815
Asian residents110
Hispanic or Latino residents391
Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson)60.4%
Diversity Index · Diversity labelhighly diverse
Diversity Index · Groups counted4
Diversity Index · Largest group share44.0%
Asian population6.2% (vs Delaware 2.9%)
Black population46.0% (vs Delaware 26.7%)
Hispanic or Latino population8.9% (vs Delaware 10.7%)
White (non-Hispanic) population37.3% (vs Delaware 51.8%)

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Ancestry

Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.

Top (8)

(unnamed)
Black
(unnamed)
Irish
(unnamed)
German
(unnamed)
Hispanic Total
(unnamed)
Italian
(unnamed)
English
(unnamed)
American
(unnamed)
Asian

Citizenship & Origin

Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).

Residents born in this state1,647
Residents born in another state1,499
Share born in this state39.0%
Share born in another state61.0%
Total foreign-born residents454
From Africa95

Households & Family Composition

1,195 households. Averaging 3.6 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 79% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 857 families, 45% are married couples with children.

Children under 181,347
Total families857
Married couples with children386
Single-parent households31
Average household size3.64
Women who gave birth (past year)13.3%
Grandparents living with grandchildren167
Grandparents responsible for grandchildren107
Family households947 households (vs Delaware 3,428)
Households that are families79.2% (vs Delaware 58.6%)
Total households1,195 households (vs Delaware 5,560) total_households: 4 observations from 2026-04-23 to 2026-04-29

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Residential Stability & Migration

How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 8.0% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 4,137 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).

Moved within the county (past year)8.0%
Migration · People moving in (annual)173,087
Migration · People moving out (annual)168,950
Migration · Net migration (in − out)4,137
Migration · Population growingYes
Migration · Year2022-2023

Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Disability

Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.

Residents with a disability136
Disability rate3.4%

Group Quarters

Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 2 residents live in group quarters (0.0% of population).

Living in group quarters2

Other

Congressional District · Congress118th
Cdc Birth Rate · Fips10001
Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips10
Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips001
Cdc Birth Rate · CountyKent
Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate15.1%
Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci13.60
Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci16.70
Cdc Mortality · Fips10001
Cdc Mortality · CountyKent County
Cdc Mortality · Urban RuralSmall metro
Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 20237,347
Cdc Vaccination · Fips10001
Cdc Vaccination · CountyKent County
Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct69.0%
Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct59.2%
Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct49.9%
Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019180,786
Cdc Vaccination · Metro StatusMetro
Family Score · Score3.50
Family Score · Schools4
Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs1
Family Score · Children Pct29.5%
Family Score · Ratingfair
Town Summary · Key Factspopulation 4,222, growing, family-oriented, affluent, mixed
Town Summary · Population4,222 people (vs Delaware 13,439)
Town Summary · CountyKent County

Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade