City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Hayward, WI

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

2,549
Residents
$40,085
Median income
$184,200
Median home
$975
Median rent (state)

Hayward - the verdict

Nationally, Hayward sits in the 8th percentile for household income and the 24th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

8th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
24th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Hayward, WI

2,549 people live in Hayward, Wisconsin - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Hayward brings in $40,085 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.1%. Home values in Hayward run a median of $184,200, and the median resident age is 42.6 years. Educational attainment runs 23.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 29 residential building permits were authorized in Hayward (Rapid Growth), up 21% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 2423.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Wisconsin at 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $975 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Hayward report an average commute of 11.6 minutes, with 78.9% driving alone and 6.3% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 32.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,549 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$40,085 /yr

Poverty 19.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Hayward compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities
Safety 24% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Wisconsin and the picture shifts: Hayward ranks #184 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Hayward's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Wisconsin, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

8thIncome percentile
24thSafety percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income · 24th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Hayward's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Hayward's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Hayward's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Hayward's home value compares nationally

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

$184,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% 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%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Hayward $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 - Hayward, WI Hayward, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hayward, WI-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 Hayward, WI median $40,085/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%
Hayward, WI'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 Hayward, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 19.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.8%

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

Population
2,549
Median Income
$40,085
Median Home Value
$184,200
Median Age
42.6
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Labor force participation
54.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2423.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
730.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1692.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,500 residents2,550 residents2,600 residents2,650 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,536 residents 2,614 residents ▲ +3.1%
Hayward's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
29
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
20
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 24
2020 10
2021 3
2022 20
2023 10
2024 29

Permit volume increased 21% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
11.6 minutes
Drive Alone
78.9%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.5%
Work from Home
6.3%
Other
2.8%

Based on 1,125 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hayward sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$975/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
32.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

New Lisbon
2,549 people
Mineral Point
2,575 people
Winneconne
2,519 people
Poynette
2,583 people
North Prairie
2,514 people
Juneau
2,600 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hayward's 2,549 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hermann, MO
2,550 people
Rockville, IN
2,551 people
Pagedale, MO
2,547 people
Peapack and Gladstone, NJ
2,547 people
Clarence Center, NY
2,551 people
Ingenio comunidad, PR
2,547 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hayward's $40,085 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Desert Edge, CA
$40,089 median income
Jameson, MO
$40,089 median income
Conway, NC
$40,089 median income
Meadow Bridge, WV
$40,089 median income
Craigsville, VA
$40,080 median income
West Branch, MI
$40,078 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hayward, WI 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 Hayward, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 89.9% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.6% American Indian 5.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 2.3% 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 Hayward compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Hayward (this city) 2,549 $40,085
New Lisbon 2,549 $64,000
Mineral Point 2,575 $78,958
Winneconne 2,519 $85,980
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hayward, WI?

What is the population of Hayward, WI? +

Hayward, WI counts 2,549 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hayward, WI? +

Hayward households earn a median of $40,085 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hayward? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hayward; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Is Hayward, WI safe? +

Hayward has a total crime rate of 2423.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Hayward, WI? +

Homes in Hayward carry a median value of $184,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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 Editorial

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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.