Adirondacks & North Country
Clayton, New York
Clayton is a town in Jefferson County, in New York's Adirondacks & North Country region, home to about 4,800 people as of the 2020 census.
Whether you're moving in or you've been here for years, the checks that matter most are the school district, the assessment and STAR, and — outside the cities — the well, the septic, and the flood map.
- Type
- Town
- County
- Jefferson
- Region
- Adirondacks & North Country
- Population (2020)
- 4,770
Local Almanac
Notes in and around Clayton
Short, sourced notes tied to this place, its county, or nearby communities.
This place · History & Culture
Clayton Keeps the River Boat Story Close
Clayton’s Thousand Islands identity includes boatbuilding, river craft, and museum memory along with the view.
Read this note ->Nearby · History & Culture
Orleans gives Jefferson County a Thousand Islands back door
Orleans town is river-country practical: hamlets, seasonal travel, and a municipal route near the Thousand Islands.
Read this note ->Nearby · The Outdoors
Cape Vincent Marks the Lake-to-River Turn
Tibbetts Point gives Cape Vincent a clear map lesson: Lake Ontario becomes the St. Lawrence River here.
Read this note ->Jefferson County · Money & Taxes
Watertown Water and Sewer Bills Have a Monthly Due-Day Habit
Watertown homeowners should know the water-sewer billing rhythm, online payment route, and penalty date before the bill sits too long.
Read this note ->Jefferson County · Cars & Driving
North Country Winter Travel Is a Check-Early Habit
Lake-effect snow, Adirondack elevation, and long rural gaps make winter travel manageable when drivers check forecasts and 511NY before leaving.
Read this note ->Jefferson County · The Outdoors
Ellisburg Reaches Lake Ontario at Southwick Beach
Ellisburg's Lake Ontario edge includes Southwick Beach State Park and a sandy public shoreline.
Read this note ->Jefferson County · Home & Property
Watertown and Brownville Property Questions Start With Jefferson County GIS
For Watertown town or Brownville property questions, Jefferson County's GIS and property-search tools are the practical starting point before calling local offices.
Read this note ->Jefferson County · History & Culture
Hounsfield reads through Sackets Harbor and farm roads
Hounsfield carries lake-plain farm roads, Sackets Harbor history, and the town layer around the village.
Read this note ->Jefferson County · History & Culture
Watertown's Black River Still Shapes the Story
Watertown's local story comes from Black River waterpower, Public Square, local industry, and downtown places residents still use.
Read this note ->Property tax snapshot
Roughly $14–$15 per $1,000
Combined full-value rate — county + town/city + school district, per $1,000 of market value (FY2025). On a $300,000 home that's about $4,327–$4,541 a year before the STAR break.
A planning estimate, not a bill. Your exact rate depends on your school district and any village. Confirm with the assessor.
Statewide links
Statewide starting points.
Good to know
- • Your assessed value usually isn't your market value — ask for the equalization rate.
- • Register for STAR; new applicants generally receive a credit instead of an automatic exemption on the bill.
- • Outside the cities, check the well, the septic, and the FEMA flood map before you buy.
Nearby
Nearby places
Tax rates: NYS Dept of Taxation & Finance (ORPTS), Real Property Tax Rates and Levy Data by Municipality, data.ny.gov dataset iq85-sdzs. (FY2025). Population: U.S. Census 2020. Reviewed June 2026. Source data ->
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