Wayne County is a county of 10,862 people in Missouri. The median age is 48.6, about 10 years above the US median. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 13% of adults. The typical home is worth $107,400, having more than doubled since 2000. The poverty rate is 25.7%, above the 12.5% national rate. 1% of people here were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $47,226, 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
Unique to this place
What stands out about Wayne County
What changed most since 1990
White share99.2% → 92.4%(−6.8 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree5.9% → 12.7%(+6.8 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$33,157 → $47,226(+42%)US over the same years: +14%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)21.5%(173)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)21.9%(176)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era48.8%(393)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4.1%(33)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 805 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.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Wayne County, decade by decade
Wayne County population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
11,543
$33,157
$68,882
5.9%
2.0
2000
13,259
$43,732
$75,052
6.8%
6.6
2010
13,521
$44,050
$103,865
8.7%
8.4
2020
10,974
$46,079
$112,962
9.9%
19.1
2024
10,862
$47,226
$107,400
12.7%
17.9
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
