Fort Hays, originally named Fort Fletcher, was a United States Army fort near Hays, Kansas. Active from 1865 to 1889 it was an important frontier post during the American Indian Wars of the late 19th century.

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10 on the National Register · #18 in KSHistoric places →

Know Hays

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Hays

City in Ellis County, Kansas

1867Established

21,116Population

8.1 sq miArea

2,021 ftElevation

Hays is a city in and the county seat of Ellis County, Kansas, United States. The most populous city in northwestern Kansas, it is the economic and cultural center of the region. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 21,116. Hays is home to Fort Hays State University.

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Hays ranks

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#3Most library borrowing in KS #8Shortest commute in KS #4Best libraries for kids in KS All KS rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code67601

Area code785

Living in Hays

Housing in Hays

$257K▲ 3.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Hays home is worth about $257,000, up 3.5% in a year, close to the Kansas typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market84

Sold in May22

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Hays

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Hays's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Hays 2.3

Kansas 4.8

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Hays 9.4

Kansas 19.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Hays

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63% of Hays’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Big Creek (7%), Wichita (2%) and Great Bend (1%). Half commute less than 2 miles.

Big Creek

Wichita

Great Bend

Garden City

63%Work in townlive and work in Hays 2 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 11,501Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Hays →

Health in Hays

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 69% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 94% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Kansas

7better than KS·4worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▲ 5 close Habits all close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs 1▼ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

8.7%Fewer adults with diabetesKS 11.4% · better 5.4%Fewer adults with heart diseaseKS 6.4% · better 8.6%More adults without reliable transportationKS 7.1% · worse

Care nearby

Hays Medical CenterHays · 1.3 mi · ER

Fcc 1301 MainHays · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Hays · CMS · HRSAHealth in Hays →

Natural hazards in Hays

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 41% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🥶 Cold waves

47Does Hays flood?paid flood claims since 1980 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Hays MapHays vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Hays →

Climate in Hays

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Hays has chilly winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 16 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

45° / 20°Winter

67° / 40°Spring

90° / 64°Summer

69° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Hays get?About 16 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 15, with the last in spring around Apr 25.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Hays →

Schools in Hays

All Hays schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Hays’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 81% of Kansas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#23Best public schoolsof 123 in KS

DistrictHaysSchools9

Roosevelt Elem B+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 420 students Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elem A+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 371 students Woodrow Wilson Elem A-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 364 students Lincoln Elem C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 274 students Holy Family ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 302 students Hays Middle School BMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 726 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within KS. Ratings are from neighbors.