Hays

Population: 21,078
Median household income: $56,861
Median home value: $220,100

Hays is a community in Ellis County, Kansas, home to 21,078 residents. Its median household income of $56,861 runs below the Ellis County figure of $59,889.

From 2019 to 2023, Hays's population held roughly steady from 20,899 to 21,078, while its median home value rose 24.4% from $176,900 to $220,100.

The median gross rent is $890. 43.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 21,078
Median age: 30.2 yrs
Median household income: $56,861
Median home value: $220,100
Median gross rent: $890
Housing units: 9,708
Homeownership rate: 58.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 43.9%
Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

20,89921,078

Median household income

$50,040$56,861

Median home value

$176,900$220,100

Median gross rent

$707$890

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	20,899	$50,040	$176,900	$707
2020	20,855	$52,135	$182,100	$720
2021	20,870	$50,941	$185,700	$777
2022	21,111	$55,349	$211,100	$852
2023	21,078	$56,861	$220,100	$890

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 55.1%

5 to 1713.9%

18 to 2423.7%

25 to 3413.2%

35 to 4411.3%

45 to 548.3%

55 to 649.2%

65 to 748.9%

75 and over6.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,076	5.1%
5 to 17	2,922	13.9%
18 to 24	4,992	23.7%
25 to 34	2,777	13.2%
35 to 44	2,390	11.3%
45 to 54	1,758	8.3%
55 to 64	1,940	9.2%
65 to 74	1,875	8.9%
75 and over	1,348	6.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	18,343	87.0%
Black or African American	250	1.2%
American Indian & Alaska Native	30	0.1%
Asian	381	1.8%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	15	0.1%
Some other race	25	0.1%
Two or more races	555	2.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,479	7.0%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma4.6%

High school graduate25.9%

Some college or associate's25.6%

Bachelor's degree26.8%

Graduate or professional degree17.0%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	552	4.6%
High school graduate	3,136	25.9%
Some college or associate's	3,099	25.6%
Bachelor's degree	3,242	26.8%
Graduate or professional degree	2,059	17.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 12 min

Drove alone79.6%

Carpooled5.7%

Public transit0.0%

Walked9.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.8%

Other means0.8%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	9,414	79.6%
Carpooled	670	5.7%
Public transit	3	0.0%
Walked	1,069	9.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	572	4.8%
Other means	99	0.8%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	9,055	80.5%
15 to 29 min	1,432	12.7%
30 to 44 min	318	2.8%
45 to 59 min	70	0.6%
60+ min	380	3.4%

Households

Average household size: 2.21
Poverty rate: 19.9% (3,927 of 19,741)

	Count	Share
Family households	4,811	54.1%
Nonfamily households	4,088	45.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1972

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	8,899	91.7%
Vacant	809	8.3%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	5,189	58.3%
Renter-occupied	3,710	41.7%

1-unit, detached65.3%

1-unit, attached5.8%

2 to 4 units15.4%

5 to 19 units7.5%

20 or more units3.7%

Mobile home & other2.3%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	6,336	65.3%
1-unit, attached	561	5.8%
2 to 4 units	1,498	15.4%
5 to 19 units	730	7.5%
20 or more units	356	3.7%
Mobile home & other	227	2.3%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2031100
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 8.74 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 38.8822, -99.3220