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COUNTY

Wayne County

Missouri · 10,782 residents (2025 est.) · 759.186 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 $47,226. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 2,397 residents. 13% 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 $107,400. With a median age of 48.6, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. Households here earn about 33% less than the Missouri median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 48.6
US median: 38.9
Less educated
13% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,862
−18%since 2000
from 13,259 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
14 / sq mi
−14%since 2009
from 17 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
48.6
+14%since 2000
from 42.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:10,782 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K12K13K14K1990201020202024Wayne County
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.5%(491)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94%(439)
US avg: 6%
10 to 147.4%(808)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 195.6%(612)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.3%(464)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.1%(991)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.3%(1,224)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(1,293)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6416.7%(1,809)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7414.5%(1,572)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 847.9%(863)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.7%(296)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,226
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,007 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,204
+80%since 2000
from $13,434 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.9%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
25.7%
+3.8 ptssince 2000
from 21.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.422
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.423 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade11.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance8.5%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical7.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Manufacturing0.7%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.3%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,400
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $41,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$665
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $317 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
75.1%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 78.2% in 2000
24.9% rent
Vacancy rate
24.4%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
39.3%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.3
−7%since 2009
from 2.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
35
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Wayne County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.3%(12,899)
Black0.2%(21)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(65)
Asian0.1%(15)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic92.4%(10,037)
Black0.4%(46)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(159)
Asian0.3%(30)
Other5.4%(590)
Diversity Score
18
+101%since 2009
from 9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
22
+171%since 2020
from 8 in 2020
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
Mexican1.2%(128)
Costa Rican0.1%(10)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.3%(30)
Ancestry
German13.9%(1,505)
Irish10.5%(1,143)
American8%(867)
English7.7%(839)
Italian2.1%(233)
Scottish1.6%(173)
French1.3%(146)
Dutch1.3%(142)
British1.1%(119)
Polish0.8%(87)
Czech0.7%(76)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(68)
+ 14 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.3%(36)
Welsh0.3%(36)
Swedish0.3%(29)
Russian0.2%(25)
Swiss0.2%(22)
Arab0.1%(13)
Syrian0.1%(13)
Australian0.1%(7)
Belgian0.1%(7)
Greek0%(5)
Danish0%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.7%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
81.7%
+22.0 ptssince 2000
from 59.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 1.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.0 min
+15%since 2000
from 25.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.4%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 72.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
16.3%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.2%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 10.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
46.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2011
from 51.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.9%
−36.3 ptssince 2009
from 64.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
0.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.2%
−38.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
29.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2012
from 29.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
13.5%
−69.4 ptssince 2013
from 82.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
82.0%
+20.3 ptssince 2017
from 61.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
99.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 98.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 0.5% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.1%(1,098)
Married53.1%(2,421)
Widowed5.2%(237)
Divorced17.6%(802)
Women 15+
Never married17.1%(779)
Married53.8%(2,457)
Widowed16%(730)
Divorced13.1%(600)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Pop 10,623
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Head to head

Compare Wayne County to nearby counties

WAYNE COUNTY VS
Madison County
Income$54,434+15%
Home value$159,000+48%
Population12,858+19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Butler County
Income$49,089+4%
Home value$145,100+35%
Population41,904+289%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Bollinger County
Income$63,814+35%
Home value$179,800+67%
Population10,646−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Carter County
Income$50,000+6%
Home value$159,400+48%
Population5,418−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wayne County, Missouri?

Wayne County, Missouri has about 10,862 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wayne County, Missouri earns about $47,226 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wayne County, Missouri expensive?

In Wayne County, Missouri, the median home is worth about $107,400, and the typical rent is about $665 a month.

How educated are people in Wayne County, Missouri?

About 12.7% of adults age 25 and over in Wayne County, Missouri hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wayne County, Missouri?

About 25.7% of people in Wayne County, Missouri live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wayne County, Missouri grown since 1990?

Yes, Wayne County, Missouri has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 681 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 6903Census Tract 6901Census Tract 6902Census Tract 6904
11 ZIP codes
ZIP 63957ZIP 63966ZIP 63944ZIP 63967ZIP 63956ZIP 63964ZIP 63952ZIP 63951ZIP 63763ZIP 63934ZIP 63950
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →