Wayne County, Georgia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in Georgia with a total population of 30,519. It is the 61st most populous county out of 159 in Georgia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 38.9 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $49,562. This is 34% lower than the state median of $74,664. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 37% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.5%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $149,800. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $272,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 65.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wayne County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 19.8%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 4.3%.

Education

14.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 34.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.3%.