The Town FilesHays, Kansas
City in Ellis County · population 21,116 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,500
- Household income
- $58,459
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 33
- Median age
- 30.2
Hays is a city of 21,116 people in Ellis County, Kansas. The median home is worth $225,500, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Kansas towns, better for young professionals than 96% of Kansas towns, more of a college town than 94% of Kansas towns.
How Hays ranks
Percentile among Kansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hays is worth $225,500, above the typical Kansas town ($128,200). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $58,459, which is more affordable than 3% of Kansas towns. Median rent is $922 a month. 58.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hays | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,500 | $128,200 |
| Median rent | $922 | $815 |
| Median household income | $58,459 | $63,857 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.1× |
| Homeownership | 58.5% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1964 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Hays
| People | Hays | Typical Kansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.2 | 38.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.7% | 24.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.1% | 10.6% |
| Veterans | 3.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 6.4% |
| Average commute | 11.1 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 89.2% |
Weather in Hays
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 24.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.9 inches of snow (typical Kansas town: 12.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hays since 1950, compared with 26 for the typical Kansas town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 16, 1998 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 170 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 26, 2021.
Severe weather in Ellis County since 1996
Ellis County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4869: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Wildfires |
| May 25, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4654: Severe Winter Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| February 17, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4640: Severe Storms And Straight Line Winds |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4504: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3481: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Ellis County
Ellis County had 15,487 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,061 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Hays itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Hays
6 public schools with 3,161 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hays High | 9-12 | 1,013 | 19.5 |
| Hays Middle School | 6-8 | 731 | 16.6 |
| Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elem | K-5 | 396 | 15.2 |
| Roosevelt Elem | K-5 | 395 | 13.6 |
| Woodrow Wilson Elem | K-5 | 369 | 14.2 |
| Lincoln Elem | PK-5 | 257 | 15.1 |
Towns near Hays
- Russell, KS25.3 mi · 4,401 people · home $135,600
Hays questions
Is Hays, Kansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hays scores better for retirees than 20% of Kansas towns and quieter than 4%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.2).
How much does a house cost in Hays?
The median owner-occupied home in Hays is valued at $225,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,459, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $922 a month.
What is the weather like in Hays?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 24.8 inches of precipitation a year and 12.9 inches of snow.
Does Hays get tornadoes?
33 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hays since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 16, 1998. The typical Kansas town has had 26.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)