Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $201,512 to $254,715.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Hays is in Ellis County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Ellis County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Pratt, the typical home value is $107,500: 52% less than in Hays ($225,500).
2
Nearby, in Great Bend, the typical rent is $759: 18% less than in Hays ($922).
3
Hays has the 6th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 62 cities in Kansas with more than 5,000 people (57%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Hays
What homes there are in Hays, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
United States
Kind of home: Hays and its comparisons
Measure
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
United States
Detached house
65%
71%
72%
61%
Attached house
5%
4%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
13%
10%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
14%
11%
13%
19%
Mobile home
3%
4%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
In Hays, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Ellis County, 7.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
United States
Year built: Hays and its comparisons
Measure
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
United States
Before 1960
29%
31%
32%
26%
1960–1979
36%
33%
24%
24%
1980–1999
19%
20%
23%
25%
2000–2009
9%
10%
12%
14%
2010 or later
7%
7%
9%
11%
In Hays, half of the homes were built before 1973; in Ellis County, before 1973.
There are fewer big homes in Hays than in Ellis County: 63% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 66%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K11%
$100K–$200K30%
$200K–$300K30%
$300K–$500K24%
$500K–$750K5%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Hays and its comparisons
Measure
Hays
Under $100K
11%
$100K–$200K
30%
$200K–$300K
30%
$300K–$500K
24%
$500K–$750K
5%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable
By price, most homes in Hays sit under the FHA limit for Ellis County ($541,287): about 95%.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50014%
$500–$99943%
$1,000–$1,49932%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,036
$1,500–$1,9999%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Hays and its comparisons
Measure
Hays
Under $500
14%
$500–$999
43%
$1,000–$1,499
32%
$1,500–$1,999
9%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
Measured against HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,036), about 59% of rented homes in Hays cost less.
With a mortgage
$1,585 a month
Ellis County: $1,583 a month
Without a mortgage
$635 a month
Ellis County: $615 a month
Owners with a mortgage
59%
Ellis County: 57%
In Hays, 59% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,585 a month, about the same as in Ellis County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Hays+28%
Ellis County+28%
Kansas+43%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Hays+30%
Ellis County+33%
Kansas+25%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Hays+17%
Ellis County+19%
Kansas+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Hays and its comparisons
Measure
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
United States
Typical home value
+28%
+28%
+43%
+53%
Typical rent
+30%
+33%
+25%
+33%
Typical household income
+17%
+19%
+25%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, home values in Hays rose at about the same pace as in Ellis County: 28% against 28%.
Rents in Hays rose at about the same pace as in Ellis County: 30% since 2015–2019, against 33%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Hays: typical income rose 17%, against +28% for home values and +30% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Hays and its comparisons
Measure
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
6.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.4%
2.1%
3.4%
People per household
2.18
2.23
2.44
2.53
Drive alone
77%
78%
75%
69%
Carpool
7%
7%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
10%
8%
3%
3%
Work from home
5%
6%
12%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
under 10 minutes
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Hays look like those in Ellis County: 2.18 people on average.
The car rules in Hays: 77% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes under 10 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Hays?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Hays, worth $225,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Hays, which is $58,459 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $82,491 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Ellis County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Hays. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $7,893 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,925
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$221,415
Total interest
$318,564
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,808 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,364 a month
Tight
$1,364 to $1,754 a month
Hard
more than $1,754 a month
Your payment · 40%
Compared with the typical household income in Hays ($58,459 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,500
Property tax
$231
Home insurance
$94
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$100
You need at least $7,893 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,925; principal and interest $1,500.
The city and its county
Hays and Ellis County
Hays is in Ellis County, Kansas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Hays
Map of Ellis County, Kansas, with Hays marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Hays
Ellis County
Hays's own numbers
Typical home value
$225,500
Typical monthly rent
$922
Typical yearly household income
$58,459
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
1.23%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Ellis County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,036
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+36%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Ellis County.
A typical home in Hays is worth $225,500: 4% above the county and 4% above Kansas. With the typical household income in Hays ($58,459 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Hays3.9 years
Ellis3.4 years
Kansas2.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Ellis County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Ellis County rose 44% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Ellis County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Ellis County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +0.4% +0.4% 2016
2017: +0.7% +0.7% 2017
2018: −0.2% −0.2% 2018
2019: +1.7% +1.7% 2019
2020: +3.2% +3.2% 2020
2021: +6.9% +6.9% 2021
2022: +11.6% +11.6% 2022
2023: +7.9% +7.9% 2023
2024: +2.0% +2.0% 2024
2025: +3.5% +3.5% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Ellis County, Kansas and the United States
Period
County
Kansas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+3.5%
+4.1%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+36%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+44%
+84%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Hays next to Ellis County, Kansas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Hays$225,500
Ellis$216,300
Kansas$217,200
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Hays$922
Ellis$943
Kansas$1,060
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Hays$58,459
Ellis$63,084
Kansas$74,275
United States$80,734
See the full table
Hays next to Ellis County and Kansas
Measure
Hays
Ellis County
Kansas
U.S.
Typical home value
$225,500 ▲4% above the county
$216,300
$217,200
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$922 ▼2% below the county
$943
$1,060
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$58,459 ▼7% below the county
$63,084
$74,275
$80,734
Households that own their home
58% ▼5 points below the county
63%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,765 ▲3% above the county
$2,682
$2,798
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.23% ▼0.01 points below the county
1.24%
1.29%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
57% ▲2 points above the county
55%
43%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Ellis County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Hays
For a typical $225,500 home in Hays, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Hays's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,925a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,893
Cash to close
$14,658
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $100
Conventional, 5% down$1,883a month
Down payment
$11,275
Cash to close
$18,040
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $107
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,547a month
Down payment
$45,100
Cash to close
$51,865
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,756a month
Down payment
$33,825
Cash to close
$40,590
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Hays
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,925
$7,893
$221,416
7.18%
FHA MIP · $100
$14,658
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,883
$11,275
$214,225
7.18%
PMI · $107
$18,040
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,547
$45,100
$180,400
7.18%
None
$51,865
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,756
$33,825
$191,675
8.18%
None
$40,590
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Hays is $922 a month: 2% below the county. In Hays, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Ellis County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,036 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.92 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Ellis County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$721
$13.87
$28,840
1 bedroom
$792
$15.23
$31,680
2 bedrooms
$1,036
$19.92
$41,440
3 bedrooms
$1,416
$27.23
$56,640
4 bedrooms
$1,732
$33.31
$69,280
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Hays
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Hays is in ZIP code 67601.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,040: $4 more than the fair market rent for Ellis County ($1,036).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Hays, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
67601
$720
$800
$1,040
$1,420
$1,740
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
67601 $1,040$1,420
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Hays when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Ellis County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Hays or Ellis County. The ones below are statewide in Kansas: they work in Hays the same as in the rest of the state.
Kansas state corporation 0% loan for 15% or 20% of the price for the down payment and closing costs, forgiven after 10 years in the home, for households with income up to 80% of the area median; not available in Johnson County or in Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita.Offered by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC).
No legal help resource on our list is for Hays or Ellis County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Hays and all of Ellis County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Hays?
The typical home value in Hays is $225,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Ellis County it is $216,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Hays?
Typical rent in Hays is $922 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Ellis County is $1,036.
What is the FHA loan limit in Hays?
Hays uses the FHA limit for all of Ellis County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Hays?
The typical homeowner in Hays pays $2,765 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.23% of the home’s value; in Ellis County, the rate is 1.24%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Hays?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Ellis County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
