What are the schools like in Hays, MT?

Hays is served primarily by Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schls. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.8:1.

What is the median household income in Hays?

The median household income in Hays, MT is $49,423 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 27.5%.

What is the weather like in Hays, MT?

Hays has an average high temperature of 33.7°F in January and 79.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.1 inches.

Hays, MT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hays, MT affordable or expensive?

Hays's cost of living index is 82, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hays is 18% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $63,600 and the median rent is $496 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hays, MT?

Crime rate data for Hays is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is Hays, MT a Good Place to Live?

Hays is a small town of 1,095 in Montana, with a median household income of $49,423 and a 27.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is 18% below the national average.

Strengths: Hays stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hays is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hays city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 82.3

Hays's overall cost of living index is 82.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hays costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hays, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$63,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$496	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,423	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for Hays is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

Hays is served primarily by Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schls. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hays, MT	National Avg
School District	Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schls	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hays sees average highs of 33.7°F in January and 79.2°F in July, with 19.5 inches of annual precipitation and 10.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hays, MT
Average High — January	33.7°F
Average High — July	79.2°F
Annual Precipitation	19.5"
Annual Snowfall	10.1"

Demographics

Metric	Hays, MT	National Avg
Population	1,095	—
Median Age	33.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	27.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	3.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	11.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lodge Pole, MT 5 mi Landusky, MT 8 mi Zortman, MT 10 mi Fort Belknap Agency, MT 29 mi Dodson, MT 33 mi

ZIP Codes in Hays

Hays, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59527

Hays vs Other Cities

Hays, MT vs Lodge Pole, MT Hays, MT vs Landusky, MT Hays, MT vs Zortman, MT Hays, MT vs Fort Belknap Agency, MT Hays, MT vs Dodson, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hays, MT affordable or expensive?

Hays's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hays roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $63,600 and median rent is $496/month.

What is the crime rate in Hays, MT?

Crime data for Hays is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in Hays?

Public schools in Hays are operated by Hays-Lodge Pole K-12 Schls. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 18.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hays, MT a good place to live?

Hays, MT has a population of 1,095, a median household income of $49,423, and an unemployment rate of 27.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hays?

Hays averages 33.7°F in January and 79.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.5 inches with about 10.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hays?

Hays, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59527.

What is the population of Hays?

The population of Hays, Montana is 1,095 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hays?

Key numbers for living in Hays: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $63,600, median household income $49,423, schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hays side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.