Fernandina Beach receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Fernandina Beach
Clay
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Growth
47 · Bottom 44%
vs42 · Bottom 35%
Climate
88 · Top 8%
vs74 · Top 32%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 45%
vs58 · Top 50%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 39%
vs67 · Bottom 30%
Access
93 · Top 46%
vs95 · Top 34%
Economic stability
34 · Bottom 11%
vs41 · Bottom 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Fernandina Beach | Clay | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,420 | 10,273 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,903 | $81,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $65,868 | $30,802 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,133/sq mi | 911/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $555,400 | $220,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,259 | $2,240 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 90.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 3.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 23.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 17.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 55 | 10 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.1 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -46.6% | 150.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 89°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 35°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.2" | 56.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 33.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 58.6 | 39.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fernandina Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire, coastal flooding.
Clay
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fernandina Beach
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
Clay
61
Your Score
59
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fernandina Beach, FL · Clay, AL · How this is calculated: methodology