City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Hays, MT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Hays - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

967
Residents
$57,875
Median income
$61,100
Median home
$1,184
Median rent (state)

Hays - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hays places in the 32nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

32nd
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hays, MT

Montana's Hays is a small town, with 967 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $57,875 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 23.8%. Home values in Hays run a median of $61,100, and the median resident age is 34.2 years. About 14.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 41.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 3 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,184 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Hays report an average commute of 14.2 minutes, with 51.9% driving alone and 10.7% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 45.9 out of 100 (Low).

Population

967 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$57,875 /yr

Poverty 23.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Hays compare to other US cities?

Hays measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Hays against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Hays near the bottom of Montana's cities

Among the 279 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Hays ranks #271 - the 3rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Hays only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#154 of 282
45th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#261 of 317
16th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#271 of 279
3rd percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#45 of 315
86th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#238 of 317
24th percentile in Montana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Montana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

32ndIncome percentile

32nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Hays's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$61,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Hays $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Hays, MT Hays, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hays, MT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Hays, MT median $57,875/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hays, MT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Hays, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 14.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 23.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 41.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
967
Median Income
$57,875
Median Home Value
$61,100
Median Age
34.2
Poverty Rate
23.8%
Labor force participation
41.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
14.5%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
14.2 minutes
Drive Alone
51.9%
Carpool
23.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.9%
Work from Home
10.7%
Other
6.9%

Based on 318 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Montana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$175
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Montana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Montana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hays sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,184/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
45.9 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Ponderosa Pines
969 people
Vaughn
970 people
Ashland
956 people
Victor
948 people
Browning
990 people
Florence
993 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hays's 967 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Johnstonville, CA
967 people
Moapa, NV
967 people
Barnsdall, OK
967 people
Misericordia University, PA
967 people
Valley Springs, SD
967 people
Six Shooter Canyon, AZ
966 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hays's $57,875 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Oriental, NC
$57,875 median income
Waelder, TX
$57,879 median income
St. Stephens, NC
$57,882 median income
Fountain Lake, AR
$57,885 median income
South Glens Falls, NY
$57,865 median income
Durand, WI
$57,885 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hays, MT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Hays, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.5% White 2.0% Black or African American 3.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 94.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 0.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Hays compares to nearby Montana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Hays (this city) 967 $57,875
Ponderosa Pines 969 $86,102
Vaughn 970 $54,250
Ashland 956 $39,429
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hays, MT?

What is the population of Hays, MT? +

The population of Hays, MT stands at 967 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hays, MT? +

Median annual household income in Hays runs $57,875, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hays? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hays; the closest available measure is the Montana state average, a cost of living index of 94.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Montana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Hays, MT? +

Homes in Hays carry a median value of $61,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.