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COUNTY

Wayne County

Tennessee · 16,416 residents (2025 est.) · 734.109 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 $52,294. Population has declined 4% since 2000. 14% 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 $130,700. With a median age of 44.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 44.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
16,168
−4%since 2000
from 16,842 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
22 / sq mi
−3%since 2009
from 23 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
44.4
+19%since 2000
from 37.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:16,416 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
14K15K15K16K17K1990201020202024Wayne County
202416K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 53.9%(629)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 93.7%(601)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.2%(845)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 194.9%(791)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.8%(934)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.4%(2,160)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414.2%(2,292)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5415%(2,423)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(2,303)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.6%(1,879)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.9%(1,113)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.2%(198)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,294
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,576 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,272
+88%since 2000
from $14,472 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.5%
+20.4 ptssince 2009
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.0%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.3% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.467
+14%since 2010
from 0.408 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Wholesale trade12.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade12.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction3.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Public administration3.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$130,700
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$619
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $322 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
80.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
19.8% rent
Vacancy rate
17.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.2%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
32.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 33.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.5
+9%since 2009
from 2.3 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
47
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-Hispanic91.3%(15,383)
Black6.8%(1,143)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(142)
Asian0.2%(42)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(14,302)
Black4.3%(691)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(441)
Asian0%(0)
Other4.5%(734)
Diversity Score
27
+16%since 2009
from 23 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
34
+10%since 2020
from 31 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
Mexican1.9%(308)
Guatemalan0.2%(40)
Puerto Rican0.2%(31)
Salvadoran0.1%(22)
Colombian0.1%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English14.5%(2,340)
American12.3%(1,981)
Irish11.3%(1,821)
German9.4%(1,523)
Italian1.6%(256)
French1.4%(224)
Scottish1%(159)
British0.8%(129)
Ukrainian0.4%(67)
Polish0.3%(44)
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.2%(40)
Lebanese0.2%(40)
Lithuanian0.2%(31)
Norwegian0.2%(31)
Dutch0.2%(28)
Swiss0.1%(15)
Welsh0.1%(12)
Austrian0.1%(10)
Greek0%(4)
Slovene0%(3)
Swedish0%(3)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Subsaharan African population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
13.8%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 8.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
84.0%
+22.7 ptssince 2000
from 61.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
31.3 min
+35%since 2000
from 23.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 80.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.0%
−8.8 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.2%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.4%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.1% 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
8.2%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 6.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−10.6 ptssince 2011
from 14.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.0%
Unchangedsince 2011
from 47.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.8%
+6.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
35.8%
−20.4 ptssince 2009
from 56.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
56.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 54.1% in 2009
Female
43.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
Foreign born
1.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.9%
−47.8 ptssince 2009
from 54.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2012
from 20.1% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.4%
−74.7 ptssince 2013
from 86.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+25.8 ptssince 2017
from 58.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.7%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 1.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.7%(2,782)
Married44.8%(3,600)
Widowed4.1%(328)
Divorced16.4%(1,318)
Women 15+
Never married18.9%(1,144)
Married50.8%(3,084)
Widowed16.4%(995)
Divorced13.9%(842)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Wayne County

Cross County
Pop 16,186
Arkansas County
Pop 15,836
Trinity County
Pop 15,720
Van Buren County
Pop 16,238
Places similar to Wayne County
Head to head

Compare Wayne County to nearby counties

WAYNE COUNTY VS
Hardin County
Income$49,956−4%
Home value$160,400+23%
Population27,983+70%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Lawrence County
Income$54,706+5%
Home value$194,400+49%
Population46,914+186%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Lauderdale County
Income$62,649+20%
Home value$200,300+53%
Population97,135+492%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
WAYNE COUNTY VS
Lewis County
Income$56,285+8%
Home value$173,400+33%
Population13,487−18%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Wayne County, Tennessee?

Wayne County, Tennessee has about 16,168 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Wayne County, Tennessee earns about $52,294 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Wayne County, Tennessee expensive?

In Wayne County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $130,700, and the typical rent is about $619 a month.

How educated are people in Wayne County, Tennessee?

About 13.8% of adults age 25 and over in Wayne County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Wayne County, Tennessee?

About 20.0% of people in Wayne County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Wayne County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Wayne County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,233 residents, a change of about 16 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

4 census tracts
Census Tract 9502Census Tract 9501Census Tract 9503Census Tract 9504
6 ZIP codes
ZIP 38485ZIP 38425ZIP 38463ZIP 38450ZIP 38452ZIP 38471
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →