Hays, NC Demographics

A map of Hays's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	876	1,485	83.2%	93.1%
Hispanic	176	57	16.7%	3.6%
Multiracial	1	31	0.1%	1.9%
Black	0	15	0.0%	0.9%
Asian	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Native American/Other	0	7	0.0%	0.4%

Hays, North Carolina has an estimated population of 1,053, a dramatic decrease from the 1,595 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.2% White, 16.7% Hispanic, 0.1% Multiracial, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% 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 considerably more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina 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 13.1% in 2020 and 28.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Hays is ranked the 449th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 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 356th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Hays's White Population

876 residents of Hays, or 83.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Hays is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Hays ranks 41st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's White population has declined by an estimated 41.0%. White residents' share of Hays's population has decreased from 93.1% to 83.2%.

Hays is more White than neighboring Fairplains (72% White), North Wilkesboro (74.6% White), Cricket (69.7% White), and Wilkesboro (76% White). Hays is less White than neighboring Mulberry (92.8% White).

Hays's Black Population

0 residents of Hays, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Hays is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Hays ranks 682nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Hays's population has decreased from 0.9% to 0.0%.

Hays is less Black than neighboring Fairplains (6.4% Black), North Wilkesboro (6.7% Black), Cricket (2% Black), and Wilkesboro (13.4% 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 slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Hays ranks 627th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Asian population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Asian residents' share of Hays's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Hays is less Asian than neighboring North Wilkesboro (2.7% Asian).

Hays's Hispanic Population

176 residents of Hays, or 16.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Hays is higher than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Hays ranks 573rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 208.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Hays's population has increased from 3.6% to 16.7%.

Hays is more Hispanic than neighboring Mulberry (5.4% Hispanic), North Wilkesboro (4.4% Hispanic), and Wilkesboro (10.3% Hispanic). Hays is less Hispanic than neighboring Fairplains (21.1% Hispanic), and Cricket (27.3% Hispanic).

Hays's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Hays, or 0.0% 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 North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Hays ranks 608th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

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

Hays is less Native American/Other than neighboring Fairplains (0.4% Native American/Other), North Wilkesboro (0.1% Native American/Other), and Wilkesboro (0.4% Native American/Other).

Hays's Multiracial Population

1 residents of Hays, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Hays is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Hays ranks 709th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Hays's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 96.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Hays's population has decreased from 1.9% to 0.1%.

Hays is more Multiracial than neighboring Wilkesboro (0% Multiracial). Hays is less Multiracial than neighboring Mulberry (1.8% Multiracial), North Wilkesboro (11.5% Multiracial), and Cricket (1% 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.