The Town FilesHay Springs, Nebraska
Village in Sheridan County · population 599 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,900
- Household income
- $57,031
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 53.4
Hay Springs is a village of 599 people in Sheridan County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $87,900, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Nebraska towns, better transit than 90% of Nebraska towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Nebraska towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Nebraska
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Nebraska
- #17 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Nebraska
- #48 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #48 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How Hay Springs ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hay Springs is worth $87,900, below the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $57,031, which is more affordable than 92% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $825 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hay Springs | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,900 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $825 | $818 |
| Median household income | $57,031 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 83.8% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Hay Springs
| People | Hay Springs | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.4 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.9% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 87.8% |
Weather in Hay Springs
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 17.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.3 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hay Springs since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 23, 1982 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 29, 1992.
Severe weather in Sheridan County since 1996
Sheridan County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 6, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4616: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 1, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4325: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Sheridan County
Sheridan County had 1,721 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,267 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Hay Springs itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Hay Springs
4 public schools with 206 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAY SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 90 | 12.9 |
| HAY SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 59 | 9.8 |
| HAY SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 43 | 14.3 |
| HAY SPRINGS EARLY CHILDHOOD | PK-PK | 14 | 14.0 |
Towns near Hay Springs
- Rushville, NE11.5 mi · 816 people · home $98,400
- Chadron, NE18.7 mi · 5,206 people · home $153,800
- Pine Ridge, SD24.7 mi · 3,138 people · home —
- Gordon, NE26.1 mi · 1,504 people · home $97,400
Hay Springs questions
Is Hay Springs, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hay Springs scores better for retirees than 99% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 85%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.4).
How much does a house cost in Hay Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Hay Springs is valued at $87,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,031, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $825 a month.
What is the weather like in Hay Springs?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.5 inches of precipitation a year and 50.3 inches of snow.
Does Hay Springs get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hay Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 23, 1982. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)