Clayton, NC: Population, ZIP Codes & Nearby Cities

Clayton, NC is a small incorporated city located in Johnston County in the state of North Carolina. Our data estimates 24,887 residents, places it at 35.659°N, 78.450°W, and lists it in Eastern time. This page explains its population rank, ZIP codes, nearby cities and distance to big metros.

What are the key facts about Clayton, NC?

What is the population of Clayton, NC?

Clayton has an estimated population of 24,887. That makes it the 49th largest of the 733 places we list in North Carolina, and the 2nd largest of 11 places in Johnston County. The typical place in North Carolina has about 1,470 residents, so Clayton is roughly 16.9 times the size of a typical neighbor in the state.

Estimates for places of this size carry wider margins of error than those for big cities, so treat the figure as a guide to scale. Our guide to understanding city population numbers explains why sources disagree.

Places in North Carolina with a similar population include Boone (26,146), Forest City (25,311), Kernersville (24,660), Lincolnton (24,229), Leland (23,544). Comparing these pages is a quick way to see how Clayton differs from communities of the same scale.

How dense is Clayton?

Clayton has about 1,642 people per square mile (634 per square kilometer), which we classify as suburban. Within North Carolina, it is denser than about 92% of the listed places. Land at this level is usually a mix of single-family neighborhoods, shopping corridors and parks, where driving is common but destinations are close. Read how to interpret population density to see how we draw these lines.

What ZIP codes does Clayton use?

Clayton uses 3 ZIP codes: 27520, 27527, 27528. Several codes in one place usually reflect separate delivery areas, post offices or large buildings with their own code. Codes beginning with 2 are assigned to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast coast (D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas). Learn more in our guide to how ZIP codes work or check any code with the ZIP code lookup.

What time zone is Clayton in?

Clayton is in the Eastern time zone, which is UTC−5 from Coordinated Universal Time in standard time (IANA zone America/New_York). The area observes daylight saving time, so clocks move forward in March and back in November. The nearest listed place in a different time zone is Fairfield Glade, TN, about 360 miles away, which gives a sense of how far the nearest zone boundary may be. Current local time: see the Eastern time hub. For the rules behind these zones, read US time zones explained.

Where is Clayton located in North Carolina?

Clayton lies in the northern part of North Carolina, at 35.659° north latitude and 78.450° west longitude. The state capital, Raleigh, is about 16 miles to the northwest. The closest listed place in another state is South Boston, VA, roughly 77 miles to the north, which shows how near Clayton is to a state line. For big-city services, the nearest place with more than 100,000 people is Raleigh, NC, 16 miles to the northwest.

Which cities are near Clayton, NC?

The closest listed place to Clayton is Archer Lodge, NC, 4.7 miles to the northeast. Of the eight nearest places below, 3 are in the same county. Distances are straight-line (great-circle) miles measured between place centers; see how distance is calculated.

Which county is Clayton in?

Clayton is in Johnston County, which has the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code 37101. The county contains 11 places in our data, 4 of which have their own page here and 7 smaller communities that appear only in county and state lists. Other places in the county include Smithfield (32,156), Archer Lodge (15,972), Selma (7,101), Benson (3,922), Wilson's Mills (2,756). Codes like this one help separate places that share a name; see the guide to counties and FIPS codes.

How far is Clayton from major US cities?

Among six major hubs, Clayton is closest to Atlanta, GA at about 364 miles and farthest from Los Angeles, CA at about 2,251 miles in a straight line. Road distances are usually 10 to 30 percent longer. Try the distance calculator for any other pair.

Are there other places called Clayton?

Yes. Our data lists 18 other places named Clayton: Clayton, MO (16,747), Clayton, OH (13,222), Clayton, CA (12,265), Clayton, NJ (8,738), Clayton, GA (3,613), Clayton, DE (3,508), Clayton, AL (2,847), Clayton, NM (2,681), and 10 more. When you search for Clayton, add the state or county so you land on the right one. This page covers the Clayton in Johnston County, North Carolina.

Planning a move to Clayton?

If you are weighing Clayton, start with the practical numbers: how far it is from where you live, whether it changes your time zone, and how its size and density compare with your current city. Use the distance calculator to measure the trip from where you live. The radius search tool lists every place within any distance of it. Our checklist for comparing cities explains what to check next.

Where to go next

Population and density come from a compiled dataset and are estimates. They may differ from official Census Bureau counts. Verify important figures at census.gov.