United States › Kentucky › Wayne County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Wayne County Kentucky · 19,555 residents · 458 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Wayne County is a county of 19,555 people in Kentucky. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The typical home is worth $90,300, having more than doubled since 2000. The median age is 43.0, about 4 years above the US median. 3% of people here were born outside the United States. The poverty rate is 22.2%, above the 12.8% national rate.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 43.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 37%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 19K 20K 21K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Wayne County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $37,678
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,863 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $12,601 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 29.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.5%
Transportation & warehousing 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.5%
Education & health services 0.3%
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$90,300
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$584
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $313 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 76.5% in 2000
29.4% rent
from 2.54 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 2.5 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 96.2%(19,156)
Hispanic / Latino 1.5%(291)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 91.4%(17,872)
Hispanic / Latino 4.6%(902)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 57.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 50.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 25.8%(2,091)
Women 15+
Never married 22.8%(1,878)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 11.8%(145)
Gulf War (1990s) 17.1%(210)
Share of the 1,231 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Wayne County Head to head
Compare Wayne County to nearby counties WAYNE COUNTY VS
Clinton County
Income $44,844 +19%
Home value $122,200 +35%
Population 9,139 −53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Russell County
Income $44,738 +19%
Home value $163,200 +81%
Population 18,608 −5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
McCreary County
Income $33,750 −10%
Home value $85,300 −6%
Population 17,124 −13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Pickett County
Income $49,030 +30%
Home value $178,500 +98%
Population 5,219 −73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Wayne County, Kentucky? Wayne County, Kentucky has about 19,555 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Wayne County, Kentucky? The typical household in Wayne County, Kentucky earns about $37,678 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Wayne County, Kentucky expensive? In Wayne County, Kentucky, the median home is worth about $90,300, and the typical rent is about $584 a month.
How educated are people in Wayne County, Kentucky? About 13.3% of adults age 25 and over in Wayne County, Kentucky hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Wayne County, Kentucky? About 22.2% of people in Wayne County, Kentucky live below the federal poverty line.
Has Wayne County, Kentucky grown since 1990? Yes, Wayne County, Kentucky has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,087 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.
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