Hays County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Hays County is located in Texas with a total population of 256,429. It is the 21st most populous county out of 254 in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hays County is 33.9 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 35.5 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hays County is $85,827. This is 12% higher than the state median of $76,292. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 9% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.0%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $371,400. Housing costs are 43% higher than the state median of $260,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.3x. 64.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Hays County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 51.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 39.1%. The Black or African American population (3.8%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

41.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Hays County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 27% higher than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.5%.