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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wayne County

Illinois · 16,179 residents · 713.83 sq mi
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The short version

Wayne County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $50,205. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $89,000. Households here earn about 27% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 26%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,179
−6%since 2000
from 17,151 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
23 / sq mi
−6%since 2000
from 24 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.8
+7%since 2000
from 39.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
16K16K17K17K17K1990201020202024Wayne County
202416K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,205
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,481 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,502
+68%since 2000
from $15,793 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
29.4%
+13.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
13.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade17.5%
US avg: 10%
Information11.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.9%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance8.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical7.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Construction7.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services3.2%
US avg: 6.6%
Manufacturing2.8%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$89,000
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $47,100 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$577
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $308 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
78.9%
−0.5 ptssince 2000
from 79.4% in 2000
21.1% rent
Afford Score
1.8
+15%since 2000
from 1.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic95.2%(15,400)
Black0.6%(90)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(182)
Asian0.3%(49)
Other1.1%(176)
Diversity Score7.7%(1,238)
Segregation Score14.8%(2,388)
Diversity Score
8
+192%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
15
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.2%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 10.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
87.5%
+12.3 ptssince 2000
from 75.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.4 min
+60%since 2000
from 14.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.0%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
9.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 6.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
57.8%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 60.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
27.1%
−28.7 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
10.5%
−78.6 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wayne County

Cleburne County
Pop 15,970
Alamosa County
Pop 16,688
Sevier County
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+21%
Home value$100,000+12%
Population5,898−63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Clay County
Income$60,417+20%
Home value$97,400+9%
Population12,793−19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Hamilton County
Income$65,746+31%
Home value$113,700+28%
Population7,859−51%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Richland County
Income$62,455+24%
Home value$112,000+26%
Population15,219−4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wayne County, Illinois?

Wayne County, Illinois has about 16,179 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wayne County, Illinois earns about $50,205 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 $89,000, and the typical rent is about $577 a month.

How educated are people in Wayne County, Illinois?

About 14.2% 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 13.2% 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 1,062 residents, a change of about -6 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

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