County · Nebraska
Hayes County, Nebraska
Hayes County, Nebraska. Hayes County had 821 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.4% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. It holds 3 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs) and 1 census tract. GEOID 31085.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
821
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 856 · ACS 2020-2024: 843 ±81
Median household income
$69,250
±$15,153 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$128,100
±$50,832 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$508
±$140 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
How many people live in Hayes County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 856 residents in Hayes County. The Census Bureau estimates 821 for July 1, 2025, down 3.4% since 2020, while Nebraska grew 2.9%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 843 over 713 square miles of land.
| Measure | Hayes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 843±81 | 1,978,707 | no clear change |
| Households | 377±49 | 797,847 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.24±0.23 | 2.42 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 487±47 | 863,444 | no clear change |
Hayes County's population since 2000
From 1,068 in 2000 to 821 in 2025: down 23.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Hayes County?
Hayes County holds 3 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Hayes Center with 218 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Hayes Center | 224 | $58,750 |
|---|---|---|
| HamletGEOID 3120750 | 27 | not published |
| Palisade | 294 | $62,813 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Hayes County?
The median resident of Hayes County is 47.3 years old; 21.5% are under 18 and 25.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.9%. 4.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hayes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3±6.8 | 37.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.5%±3.7 pts | 24.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.5%±5.0 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.9%±2.2 pts | 12.7% | −3.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.6%±2.4 pts | 75.3% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.9 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.9 pts | 2.6% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.9 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.3%±1.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.9 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.2%±2.3 pts | 8.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.9%±3.0 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.1%±5.0 pts | 6.9% | – |
| With a disability | 15.8%±4.6 pts | 12.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.6%±3.3 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 95.0%±2.7 pts | 92.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.8%±6.0 pts | 34.6% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 2.5%±1.6 pts | 12.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.0%±3.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
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 Hayes County earn?
Half of Hayes County's 377 households earn less than $69,250 a year (±$15,153), against $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $63,659 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hayes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,250±$15,153 | $76,475 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,555±$11,680 | $102,399 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,428±$5,811 | $41,751 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.7%±5.5 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.7%±9.2 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.0%±3.4 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 81.7%±6.9 pts | 90.6% | – |
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 Hayes County?
Owners occupy 67.9% of Hayes County's occupied homes and renters 32.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $128,100 by its owner (±$50,832). The median renter pays $508 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Hayes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $128,100±$50,832 | $238,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $508±$140 | $1,072 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 1.2%±2.8 pts | 35.9% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,692±$337 | $1,736 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 67.9%±8.5 pts | 66.5% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 487±47 | 863,444 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±9.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.9%±8.0 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.6%±5.6 pts | 71.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.1%±4.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±5.0 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 45.6%±8.1 pts | 18.7% | – |
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 Hayes County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Hayes County in 2025 (1 single-family), 1.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Hayes County get to work?
77.8% of Hayes County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 28.7 minutes.
| Measure | Hayes County | Nebraska | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.1%±6.3 pts | 68.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.0%±5.8 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 77.8%±8.2 pts | 76.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.8%±4.5 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Walked | 4.1%±2.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.0%±4.5 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.7 min±4.7 | 19.2 min | +7.8 min |
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 are Hayes County's census tracts?
Hayes County is a single census tract.
| Tract 961531085961500 | 843±81 | $69,250 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Hayes County compare with Nebraska's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 83rd of 93 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 74th of 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 81st of 93 |
| Median household income | 44th of 93 |
| Median home value | 68th of 93 |
| Median gross rent | 92nd of 93 |
| Poverty rate | 22nd of 92 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 83rd of 93 |
| Median age | 16th of 93 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Hayes County 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' school search.