Hays is a census-designated place (CDP) in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.1 square miles (16 km2), all land.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,731 people, 686 households, and 526 families residing in the CDP.

There were 729 housing units at an average density of 119.2 per square mile (46.0/km2).

20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.