State rank#20 of 254
Smallest county268,638 residentsHarris County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 48209
Hays County, Texas
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population268,638
Household income$89,097
Unemployment3.4%
Life expectancy79.4 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Hays County has 268,638 residents and ranks #20 by population among Texas county equivalents. Median household income is $89,097. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.4%. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within Texas
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Hays County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Hays County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is bachelor’s degree or higher.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $399,800 median home value and $1,495/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $89,097, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Hays County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, life expectancy, and uninsured. College attainment is 43.2% and life expectancy is 79.4 years.
Potential advantages
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.2%, rank #10 of 254 available Texas counties.
- Life expectancy: 79.4 years, rank #12 of 236 available Texas counties.
- Uninsured: 13.8%, rank #17 of 254 available Texas counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Median home value: $399,800, rank #241 of 250; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $1,495/mo, rank #232 of 249; investigate local variation before moving.
- Primary care access: 1 per 2,260 residents, rank #106 of 231; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within Texas
Rank and range use only counties in Texas with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$89,097
$89,097; above the state county median of $65,035.
State rank #22 of 254 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$399,800
$399,800; above the state county median of $169,250.
State rank #241 of 250 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,495/mo
$1,495/mo; above the state county median of $957/mo.
State rank #232 of 249 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.4%
3.4%; below the state county median of 4%.
State rank #54 of 254 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
43.2%
43.2%; above the state county median of 20.6%.
State rank #10 of 254 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
79.4 years
79.4 years; above the state county median of 73.9 years.
State rank #12 of 236 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
18.9%
18.9%; below the state county median of 22.8%.
State rank #44 of 254 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
13.8%
13.8%; below the state county median of 19.6%.
State rank #17 of 254 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,260 residents
1 per 2,260 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,458 residents.
State rank #106 of 231 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 742 residents
1 per 742 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 1,604 residents.
State rank #49 of 221 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Hays County FAQ
Is Hays County a good place to live?
Hays County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing bachelor’s degree or higher, life expectancy, and uninsured. College attainment is 43.2% and life expectancy is 79.4 years.
What should I know before moving to Hays County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $399,800 median home value and $1,495/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $89,097, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Hays County?
Hays County has 268,638 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Hays County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 48209; the parent state FIPS is 48.
What is the median household income in Hays County?
The ACS median household income is $89,097.
How much does housing cost in Hays County?
Housing benchmarks are $399,800 median home value and $1,495/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $89,097, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Hays County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.4%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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