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COUNTY

Wayne County

Illinois · 15,882 residents (2025 est.) · 713.83 sq mi
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The short version

Wayne County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,521. Population has declined 7% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $110,700. Households here earn about 33% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 29%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
15,973
−7%since 2000
from 17,151 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
22 / sq mi
−7%since 2000
from 24 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.8
+7%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:15,882 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K17K1990201020202024Wayne County
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,521
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,481 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,813
+101%since 2000
from $15,793 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.0%
+19.5 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
16.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
+6%since 2010
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade15%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing10.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction8.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services2.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing1.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services1.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$110,700
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$657
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $308 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
78.4%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
21.6% rent
Vacancy rate
10.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
19.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 18.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 34.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.0
+29%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
33
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wayne County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(16,853)
Black0.1%(19)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(103)
Asian0.3%(58)
Other0%
Diversity Score2.6%(450)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic95%(15,171)
Black0.3%(41)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(330)
Asian0.6%(97)
Other2.1%(334)
Diversity Score12.1%(1,937)
Segregation Score19.9%(3,186)
Diversity Score
12
+362%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
20
+35%since 2020
from 15 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.3%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.6%
+14.5 ptssince 2000
from 75.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.2 min
+65%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
80.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.1%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.0%
+4.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.9%
−2.4 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
12.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
29.5%
−26.3 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.6%
−41.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.0%
+1.5 ptssince 2012
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
12.1%
−77.0 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.0%
+18.6 ptssince 2017
from 64.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wayne County

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Pop 15,970
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Pop 16,688
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Pop 15,758
Arkansas County
Pop 15,836
Places similar to Wayne County
Head to head

Compare Wayne County to nearby counties

WAYNE COUNTY VS
Edwards County
Income$60,519+9%
Home value$100,000−10%
Population5,898−63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$60,417+9%
Home value$97,400−12%
Population12,793−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income$65,746+18%
Home value$113,700+3%
Population7,859−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Richland County
Income$62,455+12%
Home value$112,000+1%
Population15,219−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wayne County, Illinois?

Wayne County, Illinois has about 15,973 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Wayne County, Illinois?

The typical household in Wayne County, Illinois earns about $55,521 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wayne County, Illinois expensive?

In Wayne County, Illinois, the median home is worth about $110,700, and the typical rent is about $657 a month.

How educated are people in Wayne County, Illinois?

About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in Wayne County, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wayne County, Illinois?

About 16.1% of people in Wayne County, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wayne County, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Wayne County, Illinois has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 1,268 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

5 census tracts
Census Tract 9550Census Tract 9549Census Tract 9552Census Tract 9553Census Tract 9551
12 ZIP codes
ZIP 62837ZIP 62895ZIP 62823ZIP 62842ZIP 62850ZIP 62851ZIP 62886ZIP 62446ZIP 62833ZIP 62809ZIP 62878ZIP 62843
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →