When it comes to the economic well-being of its residents and the overall state of its children, Clay County ranks 81st out of 95 counties in the state, according to the KIDS Count report released earlier this month by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. The organization ranked each county in Tennessee based on data relative to four factors - economic well-being, family and community, health and education.
In the economic well-being category, Clay County ranked 67th overall in the state. Factors used to determine the ranking in that category include the percentage of children living in poverty as well as cost burdens of families residing in Benton.
With 8.9 percent of families considered severely housing-cost burdened, Clay County’s rank of 43 in that category was the highest mark in the county for overall economic well-being. The county saw some improvement from last year’s 45th ranking in severe housing-cost burden. In 2023, the TCCY recorded Clay’s percentage of its families burdened by housing costs at 9.5.
Clay County showed a decrease in the number of families that are reportedly burdened by child-care costs. In 2023, the TCCY ranked the county 86th as a result of 32.7 percent of families burdened by the cost of child care. This year, the county ranked 59th in the state, as it saw a lower percentage burdened by child-care costs at 29.9.
Childcare cost burden is defined as the average market rate price for full time care of an infant
and a two-year-old through school age child, as a percentage of the county’s estimated median
household income.
In 2021, Clay County’s percentage of children reportedly living in poverty was recorded at 27.3 percent, which ranked it 85th among other Tennessee counties. This year’s report, which reflects data from 2022, that percentage was down slightly at 26.9, ranking the county at an unchanged 85th.
The percentage of children living in poverty across the state was recorded at 17.8, down slightly from last year’s report of 18.8 percent. Williamson County shows the lowest number of children living in poverty at 3.6 percent. Lake County is recording the highest number of children living in poverty at 42.9 percent.
Total population measured in 2023 for Clay County was 7,714, with 1,524 of those under 18 years old. Children make up roughly 19.8 percent of Clay’s overall population. Tennessee recorded a population of 7,126,489 in 2023.
The KIDS Count report utilizes data from a handful of categories to determine a county’s overall economic well-being ranking, including household income and the number of children who receive WIC and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance) benefits.
Clay County’s median household income reported from 2022 was $43,441. Tennessee’s median household income was listed at $65,231. Clay ranked 89th overall among other counties for its median household income.
In 2022, Clay County’s median home sales price was reported at $57,565, while the state’s average was recorded at $325,000.
There were 513 (33.6 percent) children in Clay County who received SNAP benefits during fiscal year 2022-23. Across the state, that percentage was recorded at 22.4 percent.
Clay County’s fair-market rent was listed at $1,062 during fiscal year 2022-23.
The percentage of children under five years old in Clay County receiving WIC benefits in fiscal year 2022-23 was recorded at 55.4, with 195 children using the benefit.
According to the KIDS Count report for Clay County, it ranked in the bottom half of counties in Tennessee for overall child well-being.
The county’s strongest area was Family & Community.
Clay’s strongest indicator is the percent of public school kindergarteners with the full immunization series, where the county ranks 2nd. The county also performs well in the rate of youth crime per 1,000 at 19th.
The county’s biggest challenge is the percent of children living below the federal poverty line, where it ranks 85th. There are opportunities for improvement in the number of children who were victims of abuse or neglect as well.
See future editions of this newspaper for a break-down of data relative to how the county ranked in Family and Community, Education and Health.
For more information about the TCCY, visit its website, https://www.tn.gov/tccy.
Sabrina Bates, sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.net
