City

Hays, NC

1 ZIP code  ·  Wilkes County  ·  North Carolina

👥3,107Population
💰$44,540Median HH Income▼ 42% below avg
🎂55.5Median Age
🏠$141,600Median Home Value▼ 49% below avg
🎓24.0%College Grads▼ 38% below avg
📊1.6%Unemployment▼ 68% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 52.8% Female 47.2% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 92%Hispanic: 6.9%Other: 0%Race
White92.0%
Hispanic6.9%
Other0.0%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
6%
5–17
10%
18–24
7%
25–44
14%
45–64
36%
65+
10%

Key Indicators

Median Age55.5 yrs
Avg HH Size2.28
Below Poverty10.2% ≈ Avg
College Grads24.0% ▼ 38% below avg
Unemployment1.6% ▼ 68% below avg
No HS Diploma42 (2%)
HS Graduate883 (42.2%)
Some College293 (14%)
Associates372 (17.8%)
Bachelors277 (13.2%)
Graduate Degree225 (10.8%)

Education

No HS: 2%HS Grad: 42.2%Some College: 14%Associates: 17.8%Bachelors: 13.2%Graduate: 10.8%Edu
No HS2.0%
HS Grad42.2%
Some College14.0%
Associates17.8%
Bachelors13.2%
Graduate10.8%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 95.4%Renter: 4.6%Tenure
Owner95.4%
Renter4.6%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
19%
$50k–$100k
9%
$100k–$150k
26%
$150k–$200k
22%
$200k–$300k
21%
$300k–$500k
1%
Over $500k
2%

Financials

Median HH Income$44,540 ▼ 42% below avg
Median Home Value$141,600 ▼ 49% below avg
Home/Income Ratio3.2x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Total Housing Units1,659
Vacant Units296

Income Distribution

Under $25k
22%
$25k–$50k
27%
$50k–$75k
16%
$75k–$100k
21%
$100k–$150k
11%
$150k–$200k
4%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
90%
Walked
2%
Work From Home
8%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
5%
15–30 min
52%
30–45 min
34%
Over 45 min
9%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
1%
1940s–1950s
5%
1960s–1970s
24%
1980s–1990s
14%
2000+
55%
About Hays, NC

Hays is a city in North Carolina, located in Wilkes County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 3,107 residents. It is an older city, with a median age of 55.5 years.

Economically, Hays is a working-class community. The median household income of $44,540 is below the national average. Approximately 10.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 1.6%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in Hays is one of the more affordable housing markets in the country. Median home values stand at $141,600, which is below the national average. Homeownership is high at 95.4%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Hays is less-educated. 24.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is primarily White (91.99%).

Hays, NC offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within North Carolina.

ZIP Codes in Hays
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
28635 3,107 $44,540 $141,600 1.6% 24.0% 95.4%