Hay Springs is a small town of 656 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $42,500
.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hay Springs stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hay Springs is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hay Springs 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: 88.3
Hay Springs's overall cost of living index is 88.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hay Springs costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hay Springs, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$98,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$792
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Hay Springs's violent crime rate is 171.6 per 100,000 residents
— 55% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
171.6 /100k
Property Crime
610.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hay Springs is served primarily by HAY SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hay Springs, NE
National Avg
School District
HAY SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
10.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hay Springs sees average highs of 36.8°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 17.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 50.3 inches of snow per year.
Hay Springs's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hay Springs roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $98,000 and median rent is $792/month.
Hay Springs's violent crime rate is 171.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 610.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hay Springs are operated by HAY SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1. 16.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hay Springs, NE has a population of 656, a median household income of $42,500, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Hay Springs averages 36.8°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.5 inches
with about 50.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hay Springs, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 69347.
The population of Hay Springs, Nebraska is 656 with a median age of 54.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hay Springs: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $98,000, median household income $42,500, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hay Springs side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
