Signals
Fairmont
Hays
Growth
16 · Bottom 6%
vs30 · Bottom 18%
Climate
53 · Bottom 7%
vs60 · Bottom 27%
Physical resilience
81 · Top 14%
vs66 · Top 36%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs95 · Top 47%
Access
11 · Bottom 4%
vs0 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
63 · Top 35%
vs61 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Fairmont | Hays | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,780 | 28,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,507 | $63,084 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,332 | $37,483 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 28/sq mi | 32/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $163,500 | $216,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $761 | $943 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.9% | 63.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 38.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 18.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 15 | 56 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -16.7% | -42.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 7°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 29.3" | 24.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 103 mi | 134 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 13.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.9 | 33.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fairmont
Elevated or high exposure: hail, strong wind, tornado.
Hays
Elevated or high exposure: hail, ice storm, strong wind.
Full profiles: Fairmont, MN Micro Area · Hays, KS Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology