City · Wisconsin
Hayward, Wisconsin
Hayward, city, in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. Hayward had 2,614 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,533 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,555 (±21). GEOID 5533450.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
2,614
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,533 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,555 ±21
Median household income
$45,665
±$11,216 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485
Median home value
$184,700
±$21,890 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500
Median gross rent
$829
±$132 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087
Where is Hayward and what county is it in?
Hayward is a city in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. It covers 3.7 square miles of land, 680 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hayward, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 2,614 people lived in Hayward on July 1, 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, faster than Wisconsin (+1.3%). The 2020 Census counted 2,533 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,555 (±21).
| Measure | Hayward | Sawyer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 2,555 ±21 | 18,476 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,271 ±146 | 8,810 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.88 ±0.22 | 2.04 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,387 ±155 | 16,250 | no clear change |
Hayward's population since 2000
From 2,129 in 2000 to 2,614 in 2025: up 22.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Hayward as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hayward?
The median resident of Hayward is 42.1 years old; 19.1% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 85.4%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 5.3%.
| Measure | Hayward | Sawyer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 ±5.5 | 52.8 | +9.4 |
| Under 18 years | 19.1% ±5.4 pts | 17.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 19.0% ±4.4 pts | 28.5% | – |
| Male | 54.0% ±4.6 pts | 51.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.2% ±4.3 pts | 2.4% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 85.4% ±5.8 pts | 76.9% | +9.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±3.5 pts | 12.9% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3% ±1.8 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.5% ±4.2 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.4% ±4.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.9% ±2.2 pts | 8.7% | – |
| With a disability | 17.1% ±4.4 pts | 15.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.5% ±5.7 pts | 6.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.5% ±3.5 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.2% ±5.0 pts | 27.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.1% ±2.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 79.9% ±6.3 pts | 89.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.9% ±3.1 pts | 2.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Hayward earn?
Half of Hayward's 1,271 households earn less than $45,665 a year (±$11,216), against $60,801 in Sawyer County and $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $46,360 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 22.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hayward | Sawyer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $45,665 ±$11,216 | $60,801 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $63,193 ±$8,553 | $81,432 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,133 ±$3,512 | $38,676 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 22.1% ±8.3 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 35.5% ±23.2 pts | 20.5% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 22.8% ±7.7 pts | 13.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.5% ±4.1 pts | 92.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.9% ±5.2 pts | 85.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Hayward?
Owners occupy 56.0% of Hayward's occupied homes and renters 44.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $184,700 by its owner (±$21,890). The median renter pays $829 a month including utilities, and 23.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hayward | Sawyer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $184,700 ±$21,890 | $236,200 | +$30,248 |
| Median gross rent | $829 ±$132 | $712 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 23.1% ±10.7 pts | 24.8% | −17.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,140 ±$124 | $1,323 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.0% ±9.0 pts | 76.7% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 44.0% ±9.0 pts | 23.3% | – |
| Housing units | 1,387 ±155 | 16,250 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.0% ±1.9 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.8% ±7.1 pts | 86.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.6% ±2.1 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.5% ±2.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.8% ±2.8 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.0% ±6.5 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.4% ±4.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Hayward building?
Builders took permits for 34 new housing units in Hayward in 2025 (12 in single-family houses), 13.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.3 across Wisconsin.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hayward work and get to work?
82.1% of Hayward's workers drive alone and 6.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 12.3 minutes.
| Measure | Hayward | Sawyer County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.5% ±5.9 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% ±4.6 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.1% ±7.2 pts | 70.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.0% ±3.4 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.9 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 4.6% ±3.8 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.8% ±4.0 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 12.3 min ±2.8 | 21.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Hayward?
1 census tract lies mostly in Hayward (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1003Sawyer County | 4,982 | $59,149 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Hayward) · Census block assignment files
How does Hayward compare with other places in Wisconsin?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Hayward is the 6,769th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 234th-most populous of 608 in Wisconsin.
Hayward ranks 902nd of 914 places in Wisconsin with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 234th | 608 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 169th | 884 |
| Residents per square mile | 307th | 914 |
| Median household income | 902nd | 914 |
| Per capita income | 868th | 911 |
| Median home value | 773rd | 913 |
| Median gross rent | 663rd | 825 |
| Poverty rate | 16th | 706 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 657th | 914 |
| Median age | 572nd | 914 |
| Owner-occupied share | 859th | 914 |
| Work from home | 718th | 827 |
| Travel time to work | 914th | 914 |
Hayward's figures with every place in Wisconsin (CSV)
Every place in Wisconsin, sortable · Compare Hayward with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Hayward?
18 of the 57 figures for Hayward on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Hayward are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Hayward.