At a Glance
Median Income
$56,861
$33,310 per capita
Home Value
$220,100
Zillow: $248,781
Median Rent
$890/mo
31.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
268/100K
1,713/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
43.9%
95.4% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
10.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.9%
14.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
56°F
326 sunny days/yr
How Hays Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Hays's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Hays a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 — Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Hays residents earn a median household income of $56,861 , which is 24% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $33,310. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,120 business establishments, including 110 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Hays is $220,100 , 22% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $248,781. Median rent is $890/month, with 31.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 90.1 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1972.
Safety & Crime
Hays reports 268 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 29% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,713/100K. The murder rate is 4.8/100K.
Education
43.9% of adults in Hays hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(30% above the national average).
95.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Hays has an average annual temperature of 56°F (13°C).
Winters average 32°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 326 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 24.8 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population21,078
Median Age30.2 yrs
Density2,412/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans3.7%
Economy
B+
Median Income$56,861
Per Capita$33,310
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty10.4%
County GDP$2,050M
Avg Weekly Wage$905
Housing
A+
Home Value$220,100
Rent$890
Ownership58.3%
Zillow$248,781
Housing Units9,691
Rent Burden31.9%
Crime
F
Violent268/100K
Property1,713/100K
Murder4.8/100K
Assault196/100K
Burglary144/100K
Health
Obesity38.9%
Diabetes9.4%
Smoking14.7%
Heart Disease5.5%
Premature Death6,166/100K
Climate
Avg Temp56°F
Sunny Days326/yr
Rain24.8 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation2,019 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+43.9%
High School+95.4%
Graduate+17.1%
School Score6.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 72% / D 26%
Commute12 min
Broadband93.4%
Internet Speed166 Mbps
EV Stations6
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Hays was founded in 1867.
The median home in Hays was built in 1972.
The nearest airport is Hays Regional (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.498 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
12.9% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 166 Mbps.
There are 110 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.
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