Hays, KS Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Hays, KS: What You Need to Do

Hays is the seat of Ellis County in northwestern Kansas. In the 19th century, Hays gave Dodge City a run for its money in terms of lawlessness and notoriety. Today, it serves as the region’s economic center.

Things to Do in Hays, KS

The Fort Hays State Historic Site, originally called Fort Fletcher, was built in 1865 to protect residents and construction crews of the Union Pacific Railway. Visitors can view a stone blockhouse, guardhouse, and four other original structures at the park. The Sternberg Museum of Natural History showcases an extensive collection of Pteranodon material, fossil grass seeds, and Cretaceous marine and Neogene terrestrial vertebrate fossils. The Discovery Room provides hands-on learning for children using real specimens from the Great Plains. The museum is located at Fort Hays State University and one of the finest natural history museums in the country.

Cost of Living in Hays, KS

If you’re looking for a quiet little city that’s easy on the budget, then you should check out Hays (population: 20,744). The city’s cost of living rate, food, and housing costs are 13.1%, 25.1%, and 40.4% lower than the national average respectively. The median gross rent in Hays is $707. The income tax rate in Kansas ranges from 3.10% to 5.70%. The state collects 6.50% to 10.50% in sales tax. 

What Are the Main Industries in Hays, KS?

The agriculture and energy industries are the pillars of the local economy. There are about 750 farms in Hays and Ellis County, which are also the state’s highest oil producers. Top employers in the city and county include Hess Services (metal fabrication, oil field supplies), EnerSys (manufacturing), Dillons (grocery), Eagle Communications, HaysMed (health care), and the Hays city government.

What is Hays, KS Known For?

Just like Dodge City, Hays used to have a reputation for being a tough frontier town. The railroad brought workers, speculators, soldiers, and all kinds of people to Hays. The original Boot Hill cemetery is located in Hays, not Dodge City. Colorful personalities who lived in Hays included legendary Sheriff James "Wild Bill" Hickok, Calamity Jane, and William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The lawlessness and violence abated by the middle of the 1870s.

Are Tornadoes Common in Hays, KS?

Yes. Twisters are common in all of Kansas, which averages 57 tornadoes annually. On Oct. 16, 1998, an F3 tornado struck Ellis County, including several farms before it moved to sparsely populated Yocemento, six miles from Hays. The tornado destroyed 10 homes and a grain elevator, injured one person, and resulted in $1.2 million in property damage.