Living in Clayton NC: Contents

Living in Clayton NC: Personality

Living in Clayton NC: Location in the Triangle

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina, Clayton enjoys a strategic location. Situated just a short 25-minute drive southeast of Raleigh, it provides easy access to all of your big-city amenities while maintaining a peaceful suburban environment. 

The town’s proximity to major highways allows access to major employment centers and universities, making living in Clayton NC convenient for its residents.  The highways around Clayton are currently undergoing some major improvements and expansions, such as the expansion of Highway 70, eventually turning into the future Interstate 42.  Once complete, the southern portion of I-540 will improve Clayton’s connectivity to the Triangle- offering direct access to RDU International, the Research Triangle Park, and downtown Raleigh.

If you love shopping, Clayton is only about 15 minutes away from the Carolina Premium Outlets in Smithfield, NC.  

For day trips or weekend getaways, it’s approximately a 2-hour drive to most of the North Carolina beaches (such as one of our favorite towns of Beaufort, NC) and a 4- 5 hour drive to the mountains.

Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) is about a 35-60 minute drive from most Clayton locations.  Alternatively, the Johnston Regional Airport (JNX) is located about 15 minutes southeast in Smithfield, NC. 

Living in Clayton NC – Cost of Living

One of Clayton’s most appealing aspects is its reasonable cost of living. Clayton, North Carolina, gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 92.7 out of 100, which means the total cost is 7.3 percent lower than the U.S. average.  Housing prices are competitive, with the average Clayton home value at $367,627 vs. Raleigh, NC, at $434,459 and Cary, NC, at $600,054. This affordability allows residents to enjoy a high quality of life without breaking the bank.

However, I wouldn’t expect Clayton’s reasonable home prices to stay that way forever!  As discussed in our video here, I think Clayton is going to be one of the next big boomtowns in North Carolina due to the plans laid out in its 2045 Comprehensive Growth Plan, such as commercial and residential developments, expanded infrastructure, and plans to continue to expand its parks and recreation.  If there is one word that we can use to describe living in Clayton, NC, it’s Opportunity!

Living in Clayton NC: Jobs

Clayton boasts a thriving job market with diverse opportunities in various industries. Clayton’s median household income is $63,166.  The town is home to a number of well-known corporations, as well as a flourishing small business scene. See below for some of the towns’ major employers.

• Grifols, a Spanish biotherapeutics company, is the largest private employer in Johnston County, with a recently expanded manufacturing campus in Clayton
• Novo Nordisk is a major pharmaceutical employer that invested $2 billion to expand its manufacturing plant in Clayton and has recently purchased even more land for possible future additions.
• Caterpillar
• Johnston County Schools
• Johnston Health UNC Health Care,  a full-service hospital

Beyond the in town employment opportunities available for those living in Clayton, NC, the completion of I-540 will allow ease of access to other major employers in Downtown Raleigh, such as Red Hat and WakeMed, all of the opportunities in RTP and universities, as well as a variety of other biopharmaceutical companies building or expanding in neighboring towns, such as Holly Springs, NC

Living in Clayton NC: Culture and Community

Clayton has always been identified as a quaint, small town.  However, with the spillover from the growth in Wake County, Clayton is now becoming its own boomtown.  In 2010, the population of Clayton was approximately 16,000.  Now, the population is estimated at 29,445.

Regardless of its plans for growth, considering its population, Clayton has an abundance of recreational and cultural opportunities.  Small businesses often host events throughout the week.  The historic downtown district has a beautiful and vibrant community garden strewn with local artists’ creations.  

Located right next to Clayton’s municipal building, The Clayton Center is where you can find live performances, such as The Second City comedy troupe, and musical performances, such as the Drifters.  Clayton also has its own community of local artists, and they are supported by the Clayton Visual Arts organization, where artwork is displayed at the Clayton Center.

However, when you get away from the downtown areas of Clayton and head out to Highway 70, you might find a more rural and industrial feel as you drive throughout the rest of the town.  If you’re more of a visual person, check out our uncensored driving tour of Clayton.

Exploring Clayton NC Parks

For nature enthusiasts, Clayton offers a great variety of parks and green spaces.

Clayton has multiple greenway trails, including the Sam’s Branch trail 1.25-mile trail that leads from the Clayton Municipal Park to the Clayton River Walk trail, which is a 4-mile trail that connects to the Neuse River Greenway trail as part of the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail.  Along a portion of the Sam’s Branch Greenway trail, you will find public art created by local artists and school children.  

In addition to trails, you can also find some wonderful community parks with playgrounds and athletic fields.  

One of the newest additions to Clayton is the East Clayton Community Park with the East Clayton Disc Golf Course and Harmony Playground.  The Harmony playground is an inclusive playground made with surfaces and ramps that are wheelchair accessible. 

If you want to give some of your 4-legged friends some exercise, there is the Clayton Dog Park located right across the street from the East Clayton Community Park. 

The Clayton Municipal Park has an amazing splash pad available during the late spring and summer months, some fun, brand-new playground equipment, and an outdoor covered stage.

Lastly, the Clayton Community Center is a stunning, modern 32,000-square-foot facility with an indoor walking track, an art and pottery classroom, and more!  This rec center houses a variety of community events, art classes, and fitness classes.  By the way- if you’re a pickleball fan- this is where you’ll want to be!  

Beyond park spaces operated by the town of Clayton, there are also a variety of privately owned recreational offerings, such as the Neuse Country Club and the Riverwood Golf and Athletic Club.  

Clayton’s Festivals and Events

Clayton hosts various festivals and events throughout the year that unite the community. Are you a fan of holiday festivals?  Check out the lineup starting in the fall:

• Fall Fling
• Downtown Clayton Harvest Festival
• Downtown Trick or Treat
• Downtown Clayton Tree Lighting
• Downtown Clayton Christmas Parade

By the way, Clayton has the cutest, most charming downtown during the holiday season!  If small-town Hallmark Christmas movies are your thing, you have to check out Clayton’s charming downtown, where the streets twinkle with lights.

If summer or spring activities are more your speed, then check out the Downtown Clayton Summer Concert Series, Downtown Clayton movie night, Easter egg hunt, and the Clayton farm and community market, an open-air market held every Saturday.

For more information on life in Clayton, take a look at our video highlighting some of Clayton’s amenities in Clayton vs. Garner: Small Towns- Big Difference

Living in Clayton NC – Weather

Living in Clayton, NC, allows you to experience all four seasons, offering something for everyone. Summers can be hot and very humid, with a high of around 89 degrees in July, while winters are typically very mild, with an average high of 51 degrees in January and a low of 29 degrees.  Typically, your spring and autumn seasons are mild, with a high of 73 degrees in April and October!  Spring and Fall in Clayton can be particularly beautiful, with blossoms beginning in early March and leaves changing colors around mid-to-late October.

While certainly not as high of a risk as living on the coast, incidents of flooding have occurred in Clayton close to the Neuse River.  Homes in Clayton can be susceptible to wind, hail, and flooding damage caused by hurricanes and other severe thunderstorms.

Clayton’s Schools and Higher Education Options

Clayton is located in Johnston County. All public schools in Clayton are part of the Johnston County Public School System.  While Johnston County also places enrollment caps on their schools, these caps aren’t quite the same as Wake County’s.  When they identify a school as being “capped,” it simply means that no transfer requests outside of the attendance area are going to be considered for that school in that school year.

In addition to your traditional public schools, charter schools like Johnston Charter Academy and private schools such as Thales Academy and Southside Christian School are also available. 

For higher education, Johnston Community College is located just 15 minutes southeast of Clayton in Smithfield, NC. For research universities, Clayton is 18 miles from NC State University, 44 miles from Duke University, and 47 miles from UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Living in Clayton NC – Crime Stats

Safety is a top priority in Clayton, NC, and the town boasts a lower crime rate than national averages.  Clayton NC’s violent crime index is 14.6 compared to the national average of 22.7 on a 100-point scale (36% less). Property crime in Clayton NC, is rated as 31.7 compared to the national average of 35.4 (11% less).  

So, if you’re trying to compare Clayton to other Triangle towns, while Cary and Apex might rank a bit better in crime stats, Clayton is about on par with Fuquay-Varina.  Regardless, all areas seem to be outperforming the national average!  In summary, Clayton feels like a safe, tight-knit town and a great place to raise a family.

Enjoying Clayton NC – Sports & Recreation

From local sports leagues to state-of-the-art recreational facilities, Clayton offers a wide array of options for sports enthusiasts. Whether you’re a fan of soccer or basketball or simply enjoy staying active, there’s something for everyone here.

• East Clayton Community Park has an 18-hole disc golf course, a brand-new soccer field, multi-purpose artificial turf fields, a batting cage, and a baseball field.  
• The Clayton Municipal Park has two brand-new basketball courts and a huge open greenspace surrounded by benches and three picnic shelters.  
• Clayton Community Park is home to six tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, eight bocce courts, and three ball fields.
• The Clayton Community Center houses indoor pickleball courts, a large gymnasium, an indoor walking track, outdoor ping-pong tables, and a fitness center.

Lastly, the offerings at the Clayton Community Recreation Center are amazing, considering the population of the town.  This center has programming for every age imaginable. There are many family-friendly activities like Family Bingo Night, Saturday puzzles, and teen night. The annual Boo Bash is the town’s free inclusive Halloween dance event specifically designed for individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities.  Here is their Fall 2023 catalog for further information.

Additionally, neighborhoods might have privately owned recreational facilities and athletic fields, such as the East Triangle YMCA located in the Flowers Plantation neighborhood. Or, get out your frustrations at Epic Axe Throwing downtown.

Parts of Clayton

Clayton is comprised of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. From the historic downtown district with its charming architecture to the newer, more modern developments, residents have a variety of housing options to choose from.  

It’s important to point out that the community of Clayton is changing due to this massive population growth.  Many neighborhoods are new construction neighborhoods, and this building most likely won’t slow down any time soon.  For example, Clayton’s main gathering place is in its historic downtown district.  But with plans for the future Copper District and the Flower’s Waterfront District, multiple town centers will be available to visit in the future.  

However, some of our favorite neighborhoods are the following:

There are also multiple 55+ communities within Flowers and Carolina Overlook by Del Webb.

Are you thinking about living in Clayton NC? You can search here to find currently listed homes in Clayton.

Food & Shopping in Clayton

Clayton has multiple big-name chain fast-food and fast-casual restaurants, particularly along Highway 70 Business, such as a Walmart Supercenter, Culver’s, Biscuitville, Bojangles, Taco Bell, etc.  Along this stretch of road, you can find grocery shopping, such as Lowes Foods and Food Lion.  If you head east towards Flowers, you will find Harris Teeter and Publix, along with more regionally-owned restaurants, like Mezcalito, Don Betos Tacos and Tequila, and Highway 42 cafe, to name a few.

For big-box shopping like Target, you might need to head north a few miles up to Garner’s White Oak Crossing Shopping Center.

However, if you enjoy boutique stores, you will have quite a few to browse through in Downtown Clayton.  Downtown Clayton also has some excellent eateries and breweries, such as:

• Deep River Brewing Company
• Mannings Restaurant (with rooftop dining available)
• Clayton Steakhouse
• Crawford Cookshop
• BLVD West Coffee
• Revival 1869
• First Street Tavern
• Jones Cafe
• Clayton General Store

Whether you are looking for a casual or a date-night spot, downtown Clayton has options!

Local History

Like so many other small towns around Raleigh, Clayton was built up by the railroad and incorporated in 1869.  Over the next few decades, Clayton built up its market with textile production and tobacco farming.  However, the Great Depression greatly impacted the local cotton mills, and the town’s textile mills eventually faded out and were abandoned.  

However, the town’s population began to shift and grow again starting in the 1970s, as Raleigh’s industrial and residential growth began to spill out into Johnston County and is now considered one of the primary boomtowns in North Carolina.

Cons of Living in Clayton

While Clayton offers a multitude of benefits, it’s important to consider some potential drawbacks. These may include traffic congestion during peak hours and limited public transportation options.  If you commute to the Research Triangle daily, the drive from Clayton might be over an hour each way if you are traveling during peak hours.  

Additionally, some residents may find the nightlife scene to be quieter compared to larger cities.  While it may not always be like this due to plans for expansive growth, Clayton still holds that quiet, small-town vibe right now.