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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Hays Micro

Hays, KS · 1 counties · 28,452 residents · 899.912 sq mi
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The short version

Hays has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $44,543. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value is $123,800. At a median age of 32.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 32.2
US median: 37.2
More educated
34% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
28,452
+3%since 2000
from 27,507 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
32 / sq mi
+3%since 2000
from 31 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
32.2
−2%since 2000
from 32.7 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K27K28K28K29K1990201020202024Hays
202429K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$44,543
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,339 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,093
+32%since 2000
from $18,259 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
24.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
14.0%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.453
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information14%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Retail trade6.4%
US avg: 10.9%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 7%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.9%
Manufacturing3.6%
US avg: 0.5%
Finance & insurance3.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.4%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2%
US avg: 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$123,800
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $84,100 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$611
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $431 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
37.4%
−25.9 ptssince 2000
from 63.3% in 2000
38.1% rent
Vacancy rate
8.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
18.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 18.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.8
+7%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic91.7%(26,103)
Black0.8%(232)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(1,299)
Asian1.4%(390)
Other1.6%(443)
Diversity Score19.6%(5,571)
Diversity Score
20
+109%since 2000
from 9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
33.6%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 29.2% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
91.7%
+4.5 ptssince 2000
from 87.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
11.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
+26%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
80.3%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 82.7% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
3.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.3%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.5%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
5.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
16.0%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
31.6%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
Female
50.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
Foreign born
1.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
10.0%
−37.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+45%
Home value$219,600+77%
Population29,040same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYS VS
Kirksville
Income$61,490+38%
Home value$161,819+31%
Population29,824+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYS VS
Mountain Home
Income$65,359+47%
Home value$316,500+156%
Population29,465+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HAYS VS
Iron Mountain
Income$64,538+45%
Home value$156,321+26%
Population30,575+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Hays, KS?

Hays, KS has about 28,452 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Hays, KS?

The typical household in Hays, KS earns about $44,543 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 $123,800, and the typical rent is about $611 a month.

How educated are people in Hays, KS?

About 33.6% 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 14.0% 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 2,448 residents, a change of about 9 percent over that period.

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

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