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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Hays Micro

Hays, KS · 1 counties · 29,075 residents (2025 est.) · 899.912 sq mi
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Hays has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,084. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $216,300. At a median age of 33.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.2
US median: 38.9
Average education
39% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 41%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,920
+5%since 2000
from 27,507 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
32 / sq mi
+5%since 2000
from 31 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.2
+2%since 2000
from 32.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:29,075 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
26K27K28K28K29K1990201020202024Hays
202429K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,084
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,339 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$37,483
+105%since 2000
from $18,259 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.0%
+20.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.3%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
+8%since 2010
from 0.453 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade4.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services4.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Construction3.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing2.3%
US avg: 0.4%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$216,300
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$943
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $431 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
63.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 63.3% in 2000
36.8% rent
Vacancy rate
7.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.1%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+32%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
39
RELATED:See current rent listings in Hays on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.1%(26,160)
Black0.6%(173)
Hispanic / Latino2.4%(652)
Asian0.8%(223)
Other0%
Diversity Score9.4%(2,574)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.9%(25,118)
Black1.3%(367)
Hispanic / Latino7.3%(2,110)
Asian1.6%(452)
Other3%(873)
Diversity Score29.9%(8,640)
Segregation Score20.2%(5,839)
Diversity Score
30
+219%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
20
−32%since 2020
from 30 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
38.9%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 29.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.9%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
14.4%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.9 min
+21%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.2%
+3.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
7.7%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 4.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
72.0%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 75.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
40.5%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
49.8%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.8%
−43.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 9.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.3%
−83.1 ptssince 2013
from 90.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
92.9%
+12.7 ptssince 2017
from 80.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 92.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 3.6% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

HaysCENTRAL21,258
What's inside

1 component county

Ellis CountyCENTRAL29,075
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Hays

Ludington
Pop 29,040
Kirksville
Pop 29,824
Mountain Home
Pop 29,465
Iron Mountain
Pop 30,575
Places similar to Hays
Head to head

Compare Hays side by side

HAYS VS
Ludington
Income$64,748+3%
Home value$219,600+2%
Population29,040same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYS VS
Kirksville
Income$61,490−3%
Home value$161,819−25%
Population29,824+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYS VS
Mountain Home
Income$65,359+4%
Home value$316,500+46%
Population29,465+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYS VS
Iron Mountain
Income$64,538+2%
Home value$156,321−28%
Population30,575+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hays, KS?

Hays, KS has about 28,920 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hays, KS?

The typical household in Hays, KS earns about $63,084 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Hays, KS expensive?

In Hays, KS, the median home is worth about $216,300, and the typical rent is about $943 a month.

How educated are people in Hays, KS?

About 38.9% of adults age 25 and over in Hays, KS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Hays, KS?

About 18.3% of people in Hays, KS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Hays, KS grown since 1990?

Yes, Hays, KS has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,916 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →