Clayton

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Clayton, NC

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Raleigh’s artsy, nature-loving satellite town

Outdoors Artistic Commuter Nightlife Dining

Clayton is a suburb about 30 minutes southeast of Raleigh. Though Clayton is small, it attracts renters from all walks of life with its rich culture and amenities. This small town brings in a lot of families with its good schools. Clayton residents are known for embracing an active, healthy lifestyle. There are multiple natural areas in and on the outskirts of Clayton, but locals absolutely love Sam's Branch Greenway for biking, hiking, and public art.

Clayton is also known for its appreciation of art and thrilling nightlife. The town hosts art and music festivals throughout the year. Go downtown to admire masterpieces at the Clayton Sculpture Trail or catch a show at the Clayton Center. Afterward, explore Main Street and other parts of downtown. With live bands, taverns, breweries, comedy shows, and more, Clayton’s downtown comes alive. During the holiday season, the area is even livelier. Overall, whether you’re a dedicated artist, young professional, or parent, Clayton is a prime location to rent your next apartment or house.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Clayton, NC is $1,373 for one bedroom, $1,563 for two bedrooms, and $1,841 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Clayton has increased by 1.6% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,373/month
796 Sq Ft
House
$2,014/month
1,825 Sq Ft
Townhome
$1,733/month
1,435 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Clayton, NC

Transportation

32

Car-Dependent

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

33

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Powhatan Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

616 Students

9
out of 10

River Dell Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

922 Students

8
out of 10

Cleveland Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

822 Students

8
out of 10

Riverwood Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

810 Students

8
out of 10

West Clayton Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

761 Students

6
out of 10

Clayton Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

573 Students

7
out of 10

Swift Creek Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

750 Students

4
out of 10

Riverwood Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

948 Students

3
out of 10

Cleveland High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,879 Students

5
out of 10

Clayton High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,024 Students

3
out of 10

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Clayton

Houses for Rent in Clayton

Property Management Companies in Clayton, NC

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.