CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Wayne County

Kentucky · 19,555 residents · 458.043 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 $37,678. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 13% 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 $90,300. The poverty rate of 22.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the Kentucky median.

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

Total population
19,555
−2%since 2000
from 19,923 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
43.0
+17%since 2000
from 36.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K18K19K20K21K1990201020202024Wayne County
202420K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 55.9%(1,157)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(1,215)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.6%(1,291)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 195.9%(1,156)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(1,050)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.9%(2,132)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.5%(2,251)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.1%(2,560)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.4%(2,808)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.1%(2,362)
US avg: 10%
75 to 846.2%(1,218)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.8%(355)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,678
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $20,863 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$26,172
+108%since 2000
from $12,601 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
19.1%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.2%
−7.1 ptssince 2000
from 29.4% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Retail trade22.9%
US avg: 10%
Information12.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.4%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing1.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$90,300
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $44,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$584
+24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $313 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
70.6%
−5.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.5% in 2000
29.4% rent
Afford Score
2.4
−5%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wayne County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96.2%(19,156)
Black1.4%(287)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(291)
Asian0.1%(19)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic91.4%(17,872)
Black1.2%(228)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(902)
Asian0.3%(60)
Other1.5%(302)
Segregation Score
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.3%(471)
Puerto Rican0.5%(105)
Asian origin
Filipino0.1%(18)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(11)
Ancestry
English27.4%(5,602)
American11.4%(2,334)
Irish8.7%(1,773)
German7%(1,437)
Scottish1.3%(276)
Dutch1.1%(231)
Italian1%(211)
Russian0.8%(155)
Polish0.4%(92)
Norwegian0.4%(80)
British0.3%(65)
+ 7 more ancestry groups with data
French0.2%(43)
Canadian0.2%(39)
Swedish0.2%(37)
Welsh0.1%(20)
Danish0.1%(19)
Lithuanian0.1%(19)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.3%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
76.3%
+18.5 ptssince 2000
from 57.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 3.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.3 min
+74%since 2000
from 14.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
83.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 81.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.7%
−9.2 ptssince 2011
from 14.9% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
47.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 50.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
23.1%
−30.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
2.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
8.9%
−73.9 ptssince 2013
from 82.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married25.8%(2,091)
Married55.6%(4,510)
Widowed3.5%(286)
Divorced15.1%(1,228)
Women 15+
Never married22.8%(1,878)
Married52.3%(4,314)
Widowed12.3%(1,018)
Divorced12.6%(1,038)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wayne County

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Pop 19,453
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Pop 19,237
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Pop 19,100
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Pop 19,080
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%
Population9,139−53%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Russell County
Income$44,738+19%
Home value$163,200+81%
Population18,608−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
McCreary County
Income$33,750−10%
Home value$85,300−6%
Population17,124−13%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Pickett County
Income$49,030+30%
Home value$178,500+98%
Population5,219−73%
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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Explore from here

9 census tracts
Census Tract 9203Census Tract 9202.02Census Tract 9201.02Census Tract 9201.01Census Tract 9202.01Census Tract 9204.02Census Tract 9204.01Census Tract 9207.02Census Tract 9207.01
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 42633ZIP 42518ZIP 42603
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →