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CITY

Hays

Kansas · 21,258 residents (2025 est.) · 8.643 sq mi
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The short version

Hays has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,459. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $225,500. At a median age of 30.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 20.1% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 30.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 39%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,143
+6%since 2000
from 20,013 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,446 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 2,316 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
30.2
+2%since 2000
from 29.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,258 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K19K20K21K1990201020202024Hays
202421K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,459
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,501 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,657
+81%since 2000
from $18,565 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+17.8 ptssince 2009
from 21.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.1%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 14.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.468
+1%since 2010
from 0.465 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade4.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade4%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing1.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$225,500
+39%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$922
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $431 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
58.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 57.6% in 2000
41.5% rent
Vacancy rate
7.2%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
55.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+36%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hays on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.4%(18,885)
Black0.7%(149)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(527)
Asian1.1%(217)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.9%(2,186)
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.1%(18,212)
Black1.3%(277)
Hispanic / Latino7.4%(1,573)
Asian1.9%(401)
Other3.2%(680)
Diversity Score31.4%(6,632)
Diversity Score
31
+187%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
42.7%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 32.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.3%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 89.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
11.1 min
+5%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
77.1%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 82.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
9.9%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.2%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 4.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
71.8%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 76.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
19.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.0%
−22.6 ptssince 2009
from 63.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 47.6% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 52.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.3%
−43.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 9.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.3%
−82.5 ptssince 2013
from 90.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.5%
+13.1 ptssince 2017
from 80.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
92.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 92.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2016
from 3.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Hays, Kansas?

Hays, Kansas has about 21,143 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hays, Kansas?

The typical household in Hays, Kansas earns about $58,459 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hays, Kansas expensive?

In Hays, Kansas, the median home is worth about $225,500, and the typical rent is about $922 a month.

How educated are people in Hays, Kansas?

About 42.7% of adults age 25 and over in Hays, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hays, Kansas?

About 20.1% of people in Hays, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hays, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Hays, Kansas has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,376 residents, a change of about 19 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →