Hays

Population: 1,355
Median household income: $54,063
Median home value: $158,900

Hays, a community in Wilkes County, North Carolina, has 1,355 residents. The median household income of $54,063 is above the Wilkes County median ($50,438).

Between 2019 and 2023, Hays's population grew 6.1% from 1,277 to 1,355, while its median home value rose 63.1% from $97,400 to $158,900.

The largest age group is 55 to 64, 21.5% of residents. White (non-Hispanic) residents are the largest group, 87.1% of the population.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,355
Median age: 41.7 yrs
Median household income: $54,063
Median home value: $158,900
Median gross rent: —
Housing units: 745
Homeownership rate: 91.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.2%
Unemployment rate: 0.0%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,2771,355

Median household income

$27,031$54,063

Median home value

$97,400$158,900

Median gross rent

$618$744

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,277	$27,031	$97,400	$618
2020	1,360	$35,278	$93,200	$633
2021	1,247	$39,069	$98,000	$689
2022	1,389	$40,963	$113,100	$744
2023	1,355	$54,063	$158,900	—

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

Age distribution

Under 512.5%

5 to 175.7%

18 to 2416.6%

25 to 3411.8%

35 to 446.3%

45 to 5410.6%

55 to 6421.5%

65 to 747.3%

75 and over7.7%

	Count	Share
Under 5	169	12.5%
5 to 17	77	5.7%
18 to 24	225	16.6%
25 to 34	160	11.8%
35 to 44	85	6.3%
45 to 54	143	10.6%
55 to 64	292	21.5%
65 to 74	99	7.3%
75 and over	105	7.7%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,180	87.1%
Black or African American	0	0.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	0	0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	0	0.0%
Two or more races	1	0.1%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	174	12.8%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma10.4%

High school graduate34.8%

Some college or associate's35.5%

Bachelor's degree13.5%

Graduate or professional degree5.8%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	92	10.4%
High school graduate	308	34.8%
Some college or associate's	314	35.5%
Bachelor's degree	119	13.5%
Graduate or professional degree	51	5.8%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 27 min

Drove alone87.3%

Carpooled9.3%

Public transit0.0%

Walked0.0%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home3.4%

Other means0.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	696	87.3%
Carpooled	74	9.3%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	0	0.0%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	27	3.4%
Other means	0	0.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	14	1.8%
15 to 29 min	399	51.8%
30 to 44 min	303	39.4%
45 to 59 min	8	1.0%
60+ min	46	6.0%

Households

Average household size: 2.29
Poverty rate: 4.4% (60 of 1,355)

	Count	Share
Family households	426	72.1%
Nonfamily households	165	27.9%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1991

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	591	79.3%
Vacant	154	20.7%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	539	91.2%
Renter-occupied	52	8.8%

1-unit, detached73.4%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units0.0%

5 to 19 units0.0%

20 or more units0.0%

Mobile home & other26.6%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	547	73.4%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	0	0.0%
5 to 19 units	0	0.0%
20 or more units	0	0.0%
Mobile home & other	198	26.6%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3730340
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 6.16 sq mi
Water area: 0 sq mi
Center point: 36.2469, -81.1142