Hays, KS Demographics

A map of Hays's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	18,212	18,108	86.1%	85.8%
Hispanic	1,573	1,538	7.4%	7.3%
Multiracial	607	818	2.9%	3.9%
Asian	401	241	1.9%	1.1%
Black	277	297	1.3%	1.4%
Native American/Other	73	114	0.3%	0.5%

Hays, Kansas has an estimated population of 21,143, a less than 1% change from the 21,116 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.1% White, 7.4% Hispanic, 2.9% Multiracial, 1.9% Asian, 1.3% Black, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Hays, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Hays has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Kansas overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Hays, that probability was 25.7% in 2020 and 25.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Hays is ranked the 21st most populous place in Kansas, out of 740 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Hays was ranked the 21st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Hays's White Population

18,212 residents of Hays, or 86.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Hays is considerably higher than in Kansas overall, where 72.7% of the population is White. Hays ranks 484th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 740 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Hays's population has remained roughly unchanged at 86.1%.

Hays is more White than neighboring Munjor (51% White), and Catharine (39.2% White). Hays is less White than neighboring Schoenchen (89.5% White), Victoria (93.8% White), and Liebenthal (89.7% White).

Hays's Black Population

277 residents of Hays, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Hays is slightly lower than in Kansas overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Hays ranks 136th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 740 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Black population has declined by an estimated 6.7%. Black residents' share of Hays's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.3%.

Hays is more Black than neighboring Munjor (0% Black), Schoenchen (0% Black), Victoria (0% Black), and Liebenthal (0% Black). Hays is less Black than neighboring Catharine (34.9% Black).

Hays's Asian Population

401 residents of Hays, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Hays ranks 92nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 740 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Asian population has grown by an estimated 66.4%. Asian residents' share of Hays's population has increased from 1.1% to 1.9%.

Hays is more Asian than neighboring Munjor (0% Asian), Catharine (0% Asian), Schoenchen (0% Asian), Victoria (0% Asian), and Liebenthal (0% Asian).

Hays's Hispanic Population

1,573 residents of Hays, or 7.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Hays is lower than in Kansas overall, where 13.6% of the population is Hispanic. Hays ranks 176th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 740 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Hays's population has remained roughly unchanged at 7.4%.

Hays is more Hispanic than neighboring Schoenchen (3.3% Hispanic), Victoria (2.2% Hispanic), and Liebenthal (5.7% Hispanic). Hays is less Hispanic than neighboring Munjor (37.2% Hispanic), and Catharine (10.2% Hispanic).

Hays's Native American/Other Population

73 residents of Hays, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 0.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Hays ranks 419th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 740 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 36.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Hays's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Hays is more Native American/Other than neighboring Munjor (0% Native American/Other), Catharine (0% Native American/Other), Victoria (0% Native American/Other), and Liebenthal (0% Native American/Other). Hays is less Native American/Other than neighboring Schoenchen (1.1% Native American/Other).

Hays's Multiracial Population

607 residents of Hays, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Kansas overall, where 4.8% of the population is Multiracial. Hays ranks 443rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 740 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 25.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Hays's population has decreased from 3.9% to 2.9%.

Hays is less Multiracial than neighboring Munjor (11.7% Multiracial), Catharine (15.6% Multiracial), Schoenchen (6.1% Multiracial), Victoria (4% Multiracial), and Liebenthal (4.6% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.