Hays, KS
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Hays, Kansas Summary

Life in Hays research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Hays over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Hays:

  • The population in Hays is 21,078.

  • The median home value in Hays is $252,147.

  • The median income in Hays is $56,861.

  • The cost of living in Hays is 93 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Hays is $890.

  • The unemployment rate in Hays is 3.5%.

  • The poverty rate in Hays is 19.9%.

  • The average high in Hays is 67.1° and the average low is 40.8°.

Hays SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
7/10
Housing
6
Affordability
8
Diversity
6
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
9
Commute
10

Hays, KS Crime Report

Crime in Hays summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Hays. Key points include:

  • There were 356 total crimes in Hays in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Hays is 1,694.4 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Hays is 233.2 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Hays is 1,461.1 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Hays is -20.05% below the national average.

356
Total Crimes
-20.05%
Below National Average

Crime In Hays Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Hays
/ 100k People
Kansas
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 356 1,694.4 2,395.1 2,119.2
Violent Crime 49 233.2 438.7 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 3.8 5.0
Robbery 2 9.5 30.9 61.0
Aggravated Assault 35 166.6 359.9 256.0
Property Crime 307 1,461.1 1,956.4 1,760.0
Burglary 36 171.3 261.6 229.0
Larceny 256 1,218.4 1,458.5 1,272.0
Car Theft 15 71.4 236.3 259.0

Hays, KS Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Hays summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Hays. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Kansas. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Hays is 93 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Hays is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Hays is $252,147.

  • The median income in Hays is $56,861.

93
Hays's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Hays Comparison Table

Living Expense Hays Kansas National Average
Overall 93 87 100
Services 89 93 100
Groceries 96 98 100
Health 97 98 100
Housing 94 78 100
Transportation 88 88 100
Utilities 108 109 100

Hays, KS Weather

  • The average high in Hays is 67.1° and the average low is 40.8°.

  • There are 45.3 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 23.8 inches of precipitation each year with 13.5 inches of snow.

StatHays
Average Annual High67.1
Average Annual Low40.8
Annual Precipitation Days45.3
Average Annual Precipitation23.8
Average Annual Snowfall13.5
67.1°
Average High
45.3
Days of Rain

Hays, KS Photos

Hays Ksc X Main Nw Corner
Source: Public Domain
Fox Pavilion Hays Kansas
Source: Wikipedia User Richard Bauer | CC BY 2.0
Mermis House From Ne
Source: Public Domain
Phillip Hardware Store
Source: Wikipedia User HodgesMark | CC BY-SA 3.0
Hays Ksc X Main Ne Corner
Source: Public Domain
Haysc Kansas W From Sw
Source: Public Domain
Hays Kansas City Hall Fire Station
Source: Wikipedia User Richard Bauer | CC BY 2.0
Hays Daily News Paper Vending Machine
Source: Wikipedia User Ichabod | CC BY-SA 3.0
Ellis County Historical Society
Source: Wikipedia User Stephen Walker | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Hays in Kansas

Locations Around Hays

Map Of Hays, KS

Best Places Around Hays

1

Russell, KS
Population 4,258

2

Larned, KS
Population 3,328

3

Great Bend, KS
Population 14,596

Hays Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Hays

The current population in Hays is 21,078. The population has increased 4.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 21,078 -0.2%
2022 21,111 1.2%
2021 20,870 0.1%
2020 20,855 -0.2%
2019 20,899 -0.3%
2018 20,956 0.1%
2017 20,938 -0.6%
2016 21,073 0.4%
2015 20,992 0.5%
2014 20,886 0.6%
2013 20,766 0.9%
2012 20,586 0.9%
2011 20,395 0.7%
2010 20,259 -

Race / Ethnicity in Hays

White
87.0% (18,343)
African American
1.2% (250)
American Indian
0.1% (30)
Asian
1.8% (381)
Hawaiian
0.1% (15)
Other
0.1% (25)
Two Or More
2.6% (555)
Hispanic
7.0% (1,479)

Hays is:

  • 87.0% White with 18,343 White residents.

  • 1.2% African American with 250 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 30 American Indian residents.

  • 1.8% Asian with 381 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 15 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.1% Other with 25 Other residents.

  • 2.6% Two Or More with 555 Two Or More residents.

  • 7.0% Hispanic with 1,479 Hispanic residents.

Race Hays KS USA
White 87.0% 73.4% 58.2%
African American 1.2% 5.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.4% 0.5%
Asian 1.8% 2.9% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.1% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 2.6% 4.3% 3.9%
Hispanic 7.0% 13.3% 19.0%

Gender in Hays

Female
49.4% (10,402)
Male
50.6% (10,676)
  • Hays is 49.4% female with 10,402 female residents.

  • Hays is 50.6% male with 10,676 male residents.

Gender Hays KS USA
Female 49.4% 49.8% 50.5%
Male 50.6% 50.2% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Hays for adults over 25

  • 1.0% of adults in Hays completed < 9th grade.

  • 4.0% of adults in Hays completed 9-12th grade.

  • 26.0% of adults in Hays completed high school / ged.

  • 16.0% of adults in Hays completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Hays completed associate's degree.

  • 27.0% of adults in Hays completed bachelor's degree.

  • 11.0% of adults in Hays completed master's degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Hays completed professional degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in Hays completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
1.0% (210)
9-12th Grade
4.0% (843)
High School / GED
26.0% (5,480)
Some College
16.0% (3,372)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (1,897)
Bachelor's Degree
27.0% (5,691)
Master's Degree
11.0% (2,318)
Professional Degree
2.0% (421)
Doctorate Degree
4.0% (843)
Education Hays KS USA
< 9th Grade 1.0% 3.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 4.0% 5.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 26.0% 26.0% 26.0%
Some College 16.0% 22.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 9.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 27.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 11.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 4.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Hays, Kansas

  • 6.4% of households in Hays earn Less than $10,000.

  • 5.3% of households in Hays earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 10.8% of households in Hays earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 7.1% of households in Hays earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 13.2% of households in Hays earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 18.3% of households in Hays earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 12.5% of households in Hays earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.5% of households in Hays earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 7.7% of households in Hays earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 3.3% of households in Hays earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
6.4% (134,772)
$10,000 to $14,999
5.3% (111,086)
$15,000 to $24,999
10.8% (227,146)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.1% (149,931)
$35,000 to $49,999
13.2% (279,018)
$50,000 to $74,999
18.3% (384,894)
$75,000 to $99,999
12.5% (262,912)
$100,000 to $149,999
15.5% (326,627)
$150,000 to $199,999
7.7% (162,721)
$200,000 or more
3.3% (68,688)
Income Hays KS USA
Less than $10,000 6.4% 4.4% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 5.3% 3.3% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 10.8% 6.7% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.1% 7.8% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 13.2% 11.5% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 18.3% 17.8% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 12.5% 13.5% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.5% 17.7% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 7.7% 8.4% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 3.3% 8.8% 12.6%

Articles About Kansas

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