Hayes Center, Nebraska Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Hayes Center, Nebraska had a total population of 297, the 288th largest village in Nebraska, with a median household income of $58,750, which is 23% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x.
Hayes Center Quick Facts
How Hayes Center Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 258 | 297 | +15.1% |
| Median household income | $70,208 | $58,750 | -16.3% |
| Median home value | $83,300 | $85,600 | +2.8% |
How Hayes Center Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Hayes Center Rankings in Nebraska
Explore Nebraska Rankings
Other Cities in Hayes County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamlet | 16 | N/A | 25.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Hayes Center
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Libory | 307 | N/A | $145,000 | 3.0% | 7.5% |
| Spencer | 312 | $58,667 | $82,500 | 12.8% | 8.6% |
| Lyman | 291 | $55,047 | $68,300 | 3.7% | 20.3% |
| Milligan | 296 | $65,357 | $101,500 | 11.3% | 11.8% |
| Carroll | 286 | $61,250 | $93,000 | 10.6% | 5.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 297, Hayes Center's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Hayes Center is a small community located in Nebraska, within Hayes County. The total population is 297. It ranks as the 288th most populous out of 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska.
Age Demographics
The median age in Hayes Center is 41.6 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Hayes Center is $58,750. This is 23% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Hayes Center, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $85,600. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Hayes Center is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 66.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Hayes Center has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 11.1%.
Education
21.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.5%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Hayes Center, Nebraska is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Nebraska state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 583 Census-designated places in Nebraska. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Hayes Center, Nebraska?
Hayes Center, Nebraska has a population of 297 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Hayes Center, NE?
The median household income in Hayes Center is $58,750, which is 27% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Hayes Center, NE?
The poverty rate in Hayes Center is 17.5%. This means approximately 52 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Hayes Center, Nebraska?
Hayes Center's population is 88.2% White, 0.0% Black, 11.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Hayes Center, NE?
The median home value in Hayes Center is $85,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.5x.
How educated is Hayes Center, Nebraska?
21.6% of adults (25+) in Hayes Center hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.