Population 15,973 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Wayne County
Household size in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.36 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.37 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
Wayne County is a place of small households, averaging 2.37 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.8 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.6 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.5 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.3 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Wayne County is 42.5 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. Residents skew youngest in the northwest and oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Wayne County than nationally: 8.6%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 1.6 points, in line with the national trend. Wayne County has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of Illinois counties.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Wayne County
Renters in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.5% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.4% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Wayne County is largely a place of homeowners: only 21.6% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than half of owners (54.2%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is down 2.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.4% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.6% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.3% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Wayne County is close to the national rate: 10.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Illinois as a whole (8.1%). Vacancy has edged down 0.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +4 | +6 |
The typical home in Wayne County was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). Homes here are newer than in Illinois overall, where the median home dates to 1970. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $497 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $529 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $645 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $704 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$206 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Wayne County runs $704 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $206 a month from 2006–10, a 41% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 25.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Wayne County
Bachelor's degrees in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.8% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.3% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Wayne County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 16.1%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree has risen 4.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Wayne County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Illinois counties.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.9% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.8% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Wayne County have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.3 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Wayne County
| Period | Wayne County | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.5% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.6 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Wayne County than nationally: unemployment was 3.5%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Wayne County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | 2.37 | 42.5 | 8.6% | 21.6% | 10.3% | 1976 | $704 | 16.1% | 89.1% | 3.5% |
| Edwards County | 2.30 | 45.3 | 9.6% | 20.7% | 11.6% | 1969 | $704 | 14.2% | 92.0% | 4.8% |
| Jefferson County | 2.42 | 42.4 | 12.5% | 28.3% | 11.6% | 1978 | $887 | 18.4% | 92.6% | 5.8% |
| Wabash County | 2.32 | 42.3 | 13.2% | 23.7% | 13.5% | 1965 | $793 | 17.6% | 92.6% | 3.8% |
| Marion County | 2.39 | 40.7 | 13.2% | 25.3% | 11.1% | 1973 | $841 | 16.8% | 90.3% | 6.0% |
| Gibson County | 2.44 | 40.5 | 9.4% | 23.3% | 10.2% | 1974 | $934 | 19.3% | 91.3% | 2.2% |
| Washington County | 2.32 | 45.4 | 10.0% | 15.9% | 9.4% | 1972 | $840 | 23.4% | 93.1% | 4.3% |
| Clinton County | 2.42 | 42.1 | 7.3% | 19.7% | 8.3% | 1978 | $931 | 26.7% | 92.9% | 3.6% |
| Pike County | 2.46 | 42.4 | 9.2% | 13.3% | 11.5% | 1971 | $835 | 15.8% | 90.2% | 4.3% |
| Dubois County | 2.48 | 40.7 | 11.2% | 25.3% | 7.8% | 1978 | $887 | 25.9% | 89.2% | 2.3% |
| St. Clair County | 2.57 | 40.2 | 13.5% | 31.6% | 11.5% | 1978 | $1,199 | 33.0% | 93.4% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Davis County, IA · Wilkinson County, MS · Dixie County, FL · Dimmit County, TX · Dickinson County, KS · Wilson County, KS · Winkler County, TX · Deer Lodge County, MT · Woodruff County, AR · Decatur County, IA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Wayne County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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