Real Estate Investing in Hays, Kansas (67601)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Ellis County • Population: 24,279 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 67601 (Hays, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Hays, KS (67601)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $259,090
Avg Monthly Rent $930
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,845
% Renters 40.9%

Market Analysis: 67601 Hays

ZIP 67601 in Hays, KS carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $259K and rents of $930/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 67601 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $259K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Hays have seen price recovery that 67601 has not matched. Ellis County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

From an investor standpoint, 24,279 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 67601 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Hays:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $930/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Hays, KS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Hays, KS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 67601

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$65,323/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $86,898 $720 6.0% +3.3% $86,898
2BR $146,964 $940 4.6% +6.0% $73,482
3BR $224,982 $1,290 4.1% +6.3% $74,994
4BR $265,808 $1,580 4.3% +6.4% $66,452
5BR $326,613 +6.2% $65,323

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$269K$246K$224K$201K$179K$156KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$938$929$920$911$903$894Feb 2026Mar 2026Apr 2026

📊 How Does 67601 Compare?

Metric 67601 Hays Hays, KS Kansas
Home Value $259,090 $259,090 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $930 $930 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 67601? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 41% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 67601 (Hays, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Hays, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $259,090
Monthly Rent $930
Price-to-Rent 23.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 67601

Population: 24,279

💰 Median Household Income
$56,845
This area
$56,845
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.9%
This area
40.9%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.4%
This area
41.4%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.9 years
This area
31.9 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.2%
Other/Mixed 6.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.4%
Asian 1.8%
Black/African American 1.3%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 67601

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$17,437 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Roosevelt Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,437 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodrow Wilson Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,437 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,437 Per Student
A Very Good

Hays Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
731 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,437 Per Student
A Very Good

Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,437 Per Student
B Good

Hays High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,013 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,437 Per Student
B Good

Hays Virtual School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
👥
250 Students
💰
$17,437 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 847 Off-Campus Students
C+
Fort Hays State University
12,843 students · 0.1 mi
C
Hays Academy of Hair Design
74 students · 1.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 847 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Hays, KS?

Expect rents around $930/mo per month in Hays, KS. With home values at $259K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the renter demographic in Hays, KS?

Tenant demand in Hays, KS is solid. The local workforce $930/mo rents across most rental classes.

Which real estate strategy fits Hays, KS?

Hays, KS investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($259K prices, $930/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is house hacking profitable in Hays, KS?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Hays, KS reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Hays, KS?

Expect elevated vacancy in Hays, KS. Rents at $930/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 67601 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 67601 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 67601 ranks in Hays, KS

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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