At a Glance
Median Income
$57,875
$21,427 per capita
Home Value
$61,100
Zillow: $160,056
Median Rent
$550/mo
12.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
14.5%
83.9% high school+
Unemployment
26.0%
23.8% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
46.0%
28.2% smoking rate
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
3.1 / 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 $57,875 , which is 23% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $21,427. The unemployment rate stands at 26.0% (622% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 23.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 204 business establishments, including 9 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Hays is $61,100 , 78% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $160,056. Median rent is $550/month, with 12.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 94.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1978.
Education
14.5% of adults in Hays hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(57% below the national average).
83.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Hays has an average annual temperature of 43°F (6°C).
Winters average 24°F in January while summers reach 66°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 19.5 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population967
Median Age34.2 yrs
Density36/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born1.9%
Veterans8.6%
Economy
C
Median Income$57,875
Per Capita$21,427
Unemployment26.0%
Poverty23.8%
County GDP$227M
Avg Weekly Wage$904
Housing
A+
Home Value$61,100
Rent$550
Ownership49.4%
Zillow$160,056
Housing Units286
Rent Burden12.9%
Health
Obesity46.0%
Diabetes16.4%
Smoking28.2%
Heart Disease7.9%
Premature Death18,542/100K
Climate
Avg Temp43°F
Rain19.5 in/yr
Elevation3,935 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+14.5%
High School+83.9%
Graduate+2.4%
School Score4.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 51% / D 45%
Commute16 min
Broadband81.7%
Internet Speed47 Mbps
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Hays was built in 1978.
The nearest airport is Great Falls International (131 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.444 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
28.4% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 1 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.