Hays, MT Demographics

A map of Hays's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Native American/Other	869	912	86.1%	91.6%
Hispanic	57	20	5.6%	2.0%
Multiracial	38	24	3.8%	2.4%
White	26	35	2.6%	3.5%
Black	19	1	1.9%	0.1%
Asian	0	4	0.0%	0.4%

Hays, Montana has an estimated population of 1,009, a slight increase from the 996 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.1% Native American/Other, 5.6% Hispanic, 3.8% Multiracial, 2.6% White, 1.9% Black, and 0.0% Asian. 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 considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Montana 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 15.9% in 2020 and 25.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Hays is ranked the 92nd most populous place in Montana, out of 497 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 96th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Hays's White Population

26 residents of Hays, or 2.6% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Hays is significantly lower than in Montana overall, where 83.6% of the population is White. Hays ranks 468th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's White population has declined by an estimated 25.7%. White residents' share of Hays's population has decreased from 3.5% to 2.6%.

Hays is more White than neighboring Lodge Pole (0% White), and Fort Belknap Agency (1.8% White). Hays is less White than neighboring Landusky (90.5% White), Zortman (100% White), and Harlem (33.5% White).

Hays's Black Population

19 residents of Hays, or 1.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.4% of the population is Black. Hays ranks 166th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Black population has grown by an estimated 1800.0%. Black residents' share of Hays's population has increased from 0.1% to 1.9%.

Hays is more Black than neighboring Lodge Pole (0% Black), Landusky (0% Black), Zortman (0% Black), Fort Belknap Agency (0% Black), and Harlem (0% Black).

Hays's Asian Population

0 residents of Hays, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Hays ranks 145th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Hays's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Hays's Hispanic Population

57 residents of Hays, or 5.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.6% of the population is Hispanic. Hays ranks 307th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 185.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Hays's population has increased from 2.0% to 5.6%.

Hays is more Hispanic than neighboring Lodge Pole (0% Hispanic), Landusky (0% Hispanic), Zortman (0% Hispanic), Fort Belknap Agency (1.4% Hispanic), and Harlem (4.9% Hispanic).

Hays's Native American/Other Population

869 residents of Hays, or 86.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Hays is significantly higher than in Montana overall, where 5.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Hays ranks 19th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 4.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Hays's population has decreased from 91.6% to 86.1%.

Hays is more Native American/Other than neighboring Landusky (0% Native American/Other), Zortman (0% Native American/Other), and Harlem (49.8% Native American/Other). Hays is less Native American/Other than neighboring Lodge Pole (100% Native American/Other), and Fort Belknap Agency (94.2% Native American/Other).

Hays's Multiracial Population

38 residents of Hays, or 3.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Hays is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Hays ranks 358th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 58.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Hays's population has increased from 2.4% to 3.8%.

Hays is more Multiracial than neighboring Lodge Pole (0% Multiracial), Zortman (0% Multiracial), and Fort Belknap Agency (2.6% Multiracial). Hays is less Multiracial than neighboring Landusky (9.5% Multiracial), and Harlem (11.9% 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.