1st Advantage MortgageIn Hayes County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $69,250 a year and the typical rent is $508. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Hayes County
- Household income in Hayes County
- How Hayes County residents earn a living
- Hayes County housing compared with Nebraska
- The communities that make up Hayes County
- How Hayes County compares with nearby counties
- Hayes County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Hayes County borrowers
- What a median Hayes County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Hayes County residents
- A Hayes County borrower's checklist
- More guides for Hayes County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Hayes County
Hayes County is home to about 843 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 83rd most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Spread over 713 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Hayes County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Hayes County, Hayes Center leads by population with about 297; 2 of the 2 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Hayes County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Household income in Hayes County
At $69,250, the typical Hayes County household income is 5% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 44th of 93.
| Yearly household income | Hayes County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.5% | +5.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.4% | +8.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.0% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Hayes County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.7% of Hayes County residents in poverty, against 10.6% across Nebraska. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.409 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Hayes County median.
How Hayes County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 45% of employed Hayes County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 15% in education and health care. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 45% locally and 4% for Nebraska. 24% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Households without a car make up 3.2% of the total (5.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Hayes County | Difference from Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 44.7% | +40.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.2% | -9.3 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.4% | -4.2 pts |
| Information | 5.5% | +4.0 pts |
| Other services | 4.5% | -0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Hayes County housing compared with Nebraska
Renters in Hayes County pay a median of $508 a month, 53% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 2% of renter households here. With a median value of $128,100, a typical Hayes County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Hayes County households own their home and 32% rent.
| Housing | Hayes County | Nebraska statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $508/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $128,100 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 2% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 22% | n/a |
The communities that make up Hayes County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Hayes County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 313 people, so roughly 63% of residents live outside any named place. No Hayes County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayes Center | village | 297 | $58,750 | $763 | 2 mi |
| Hamlet | village | 16 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
How Hayes County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (25 to 40 miles). Income ranges from $51,567 in Hitchcock County to $72,778 in Perkins County; 2 of these neighbors top Hayes County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayes County | - | $69,250 | $508/mo | 68% |
| Hitchcock County, NE | 25 mi | $51,567 | $714/mo | 79% |
| Frontier County, NE | 34 mi | $70,132 | $666/mo | 74% |
| Chase County, NE | 34 mi | $68,173 | $800/mo | 79% |
| Perkins County, NE | 38 mi | $72,778 | $922/mo | 79% |
| Lincoln County, NE | 39 mi | $65,148 | $900/mo | 66% |
| Red Willow County, NE | 40 mi | $63,697 | $819/mo | 73% |
Hayes County residents: age, schooling, coverage
20% of Hayes County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Hayes County | Nebraska | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.8% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
What the numbers mean for Hayes County borrowers
Based on the Hayes County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 24% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 12% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Retirees. At a median age of 47.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
What a median Hayes County budget can carry
How much room does a median Hayes County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $5,771 a month: gross income for a household at the Hayes County median
- Less median rent of $508, which is 9% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,570 left for all other debt payments
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,973 a month
If your rent is above $508, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who licenses lenders for Hayes County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Hayes County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
A Hayes County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Hayes County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Hayes County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Nebraska borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Hayes County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hayes County a high-income county?
Its $69,250 median ranks 44th of 93 Nebraska counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Hayes County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $508 a month; 2% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Hayes County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Hayes Center, Hamlet.
Does living in Hayes County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Hayes County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Hayes County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Nebraska it is the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance.