The Town FilesHays, North Carolina
Community in Wilkes County · population 1,595 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,800
- Household income
- $55,035
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 6 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 48.2
Hays is a community of 1,595 people in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $183,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 86% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 76% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 70% of North Carolina towns.
How Hays ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hays is worth $183,800, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $55,035, which is more affordable than 69% of North Carolina towns. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hays | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | — | $969 |
| Median household income | $55,035 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hays
| People | Hays | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.9% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Hays
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 27.0°F. About 51.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 32 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hays since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 26, 2024 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 46 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 30, 2012.
Severe weather in Wilkes County since 1996
Wilkes County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Wilkes County
Wilkes County had 18,933 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,003 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Hays itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Hays
2 public schools with 1,108 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Wilkes High School | 9-12 | 600 | 15.0 |
| Mountain View Elementary School | PK-5 | 508 | 16.4 |
Towns near Hays
- Mulberry, NC3.2 mi · 2,275 people · home $172,400
- Fairplains, NC4.3 mi · 2,029 people · home $140,200
- North Wilkesboro, NC5.3 mi · 4,382 people · home $212,700
- Cricket, NC7.0 mi · 1,966 people · home $140,600
- Millers Creek, NC7.8 mi · 1,931 people · home $227,200
- Wilkesboro, NC8.0 mi · 3,687 people · home $223,700
- Moravian Falls, NC10.4 mi · 1,712 people · home $218,800
- Pleasant Hill, NC12.2 mi · 831 people · home $147,800
Hays questions
Is Hays, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hays scores better for retirees than 39% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 76%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Hays?
The median owner-occupied home in Hays is valued at $183,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,035, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Hays?
July highs average 86.9°F and January lows 27.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.7 inches of precipitation a year and 5.6 inches of snow.
Does Hays get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hays since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 26, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)