Hayward city, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Hayward city, Wisconsin Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

As of 2026, Hayward city, Wisconsin has a total population of 2,549, the 241st largest city in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $40,085, which is 47% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 19.5%.

Key Takeaways

Household income is 47% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.

Hayward city Quick Facts

Population 2,549

Median Household Income $40,085

Median Home Value $184,200

Poverty Rate 19.5%

Unemployment Rate 4.5%

Median Age 42.6 years

Homeownership Rate 58.0%

Affordability Ratio 4.6x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 23.3%

High School Graduation Rate 90.2%

Diversity Index 19/100

Population 2,549 241st of 807

Median Income $40,085 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 19.5% 56% higher national

Median Home Value $184,200 average

How Hayward city Compares

Median Household Income

Hayward city

$40,085

$75,670

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Hayward city

$184,200

$247,400

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 35.1%

$25K-$50K 22.2%

$50K-$100K 24.3%

$100K+ 18.4%

Employment

4.5% Unemployment Rate State: 3.3% | National: 5.2%

57.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 58.0%

Renter 42.0%

Affordability Index Moderate

4.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.7%

18-34

17.3%

35-54

22.0%

55-74

29.4%

75+

9.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 36 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Hayward city Rankings in Wisconsin

#241 Population of 807

#757 Median Income of 807

#361 Education of 807

#375 Home Value of 807

Explore Wisconsin Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Sawyer County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Winter village	328	$41,848	21.6%	$85,000
Radisson village	243	$39,423	25.2%	$81,400
Exeland village	201	$32,240	27.4%	$112,500
Couderay village	96	$51,979	11.5%	$77,500

Cities Similar to Hayward city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
Nekoosa city	2,439	$43,026	$112,900	8.0%	18.6%
Cumberland city	2,389	$47,773	$173,900	28.5%	30.7%
Park Falls city	2,308	$47,240	$81,900	10.8%	25.7%
Adams city	2,144	$41,917	$101,200	13.7%	23.9%
Spooner city	2,203	$44,474	$141,800	17.0%	20.9%

Population Overview

Hayward city is a small community located in Wisconsin, within Sawyer County. The total population is 2,549. It ranks as the 241st most populous out of 807 cities and towns in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Hayward city is 42.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Hayward city is $40,085. This is 47% lower than the state median of $75,670. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 49% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.5%. This is 84% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.5%. This is 37% higher than the state rate of 3.3%. The median home value is $184,200. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $247,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 58.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% lower than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Hayward city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.3%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 6.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 7.8%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

23.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% lower than the state rate of 32.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Hayward city, Wisconsin is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 807 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

Free data download: Get all Wisconsin city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Hayward city, Wisconsin?

Hayward city, Wisconsin has a population of 2,549 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Hayward city, WI?

The median household income in Hayward city is $40,085, which is 49% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Hayward city, WI?

The poverty rate in Hayward city is 19.5%. This means approximately 463 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Hayward city, Wisconsin?

Hayward city's population is 89.6% White, 0.8% Black, 1.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Hayward city, WI?

The median home value in Hayward city is $184,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x.

How educated is Hayward city, Wisconsin?

23.3% of adults (25+) in Hayward city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.