The Suburb With Its Own Skyline
Clayton has three Fortune 500 headquarters, a genuine downtown skyline, and roughly 46,000 people who commute in to work there every day. And yet more than 80 percent of the city is still residential or parkland. It's the county seat of St. Louis County, all 2.51 square miles of it, wedged right against the western edge of the city.
Quick facts:
Downtown Clayton is the region's second-largest business district after downtown St. Louis itself, with roughly 46,000 people commuting in on a given workday. Mid-century modern towers and newer high-rises hold law firms and corporate headquarters, alongside a growing number of restaurants and shops that keep the district alive well after the workday ends.
Just off downtown, Shaw Park is Clayton's answer to a backyard: 30 acres built out during the Depression, with an Olympic-sized pool, eleven tennis courts, an ice rink, and sports fields that host most of the city's community events. It's proof that Clayton didn't have to choose between being a business district and a place people actually live.
The School District of Clayton is ranked the best public school district in Missouri, feeding three elementary schools into Wydown Middle School and Clayton High School. For a lot of families, that ranking alone is the reason Clayton shows up on the list.
Clayton exists because St. Louis City split from St. Louis County in 1876, leaving the county without a seat of government. Two farmers, Ralph Clayton and Martin Hanley, donated a combined 104 acres for a new courthouse, and on December 4, 1877, the county picked their land. The city incorporated in 1913, largely to keep neighboring University City from annexing it, and grew from courthouse-adjacent farmland into the corporate hub it is today.
Away from the high-rises, Clayton's residential streets run dense and walkable: pre-war brick walkups and apartment buildings, grand older mansions, and plenty of more modest single-family homes, all within a short walk of downtown rather than a drive from it.
Partner with a team that's earned it: three-time A-List winner for Best Real Estate Agent in St. Louis (2024, 2025, and 2026), with decades of experience and over 1,000 successful transactions across the St. Louis area, including Clayton's mix of high-rise, historic, and family homes.
Explore available listings in the area.
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6312 Southwood Avenue Unit: 3E
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6317 Southwood Avenue Unit: 2W
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6330 Southwood Avenue Unit: 1E
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823 Westwood Drive Unit: 1S
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829 Westwood Drive Unit: 2E
17,282 people live in Clayton, where the median age is 28.7 and the average individual income is $75,049. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
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There's plenty to do around Clayton, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including STLwinegirl, Vivienne Salad Dressings, and Players World Tennis.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining · $$ | 0.02 miles | 3 reviews | 2.3/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.02 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.02 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.51 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 1.01 miles | 2 reviews | 4.5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.22 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.4 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.76 miles | 5 reviews | 1/5 stars | |
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Clayton has 5,964 households, with an average household size of 2.14. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Clayton do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 17,282 people call Clayton home. The population density is 6,891 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
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10-17 Years
18-24 Years
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Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
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Blue vs White Collar Workers
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Partner with a team that values honest advice, strategic guidance, and exceptional service. With decades of experience and over 1,000 successful transactions, we're committed to helping you achieve your real estate goals with confidence.
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Dawn Griffin Group
3636 S Geyer Rd Ste #100 St. Louis, MO 63127
