Wayne County, Kentucky Demographics 2026
Wayne County, Kentucky has a population of 19,602, the 62nd most populous county in Kentucky. The median household income is $45,739 and the median home value is $135,700. The poverty rate is 24.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Wayne County Quick Facts
How Wayne County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,592 | 19,602 | +0.1% |
| Median household income | $41,933 | $45,739 | +9.1% |
| Median home value | $121,700 | $135,700 | +11.5% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 33 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Wayne County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | 5,753 | $44,952 | 30.4% | $132,400 |
Explore Kentucky Rankings
Population Overview
Wayne County is located in Kentucky with a total population of 19,602. It is the 62nd most populous county out of 120 in Kentucky. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.
Age Demographics
The median age in Wayne County is 43.8 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.1 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Wayne County is $45,739. This is 28% lower than the state median of $63,726. It is also 43% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.8%. This is 54% higher than the state poverty rate of 16.1%. 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 5.8%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 4.9%. The median home value is $135,700. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $205,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 69.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 68.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
Wayne County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.5%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 7.5%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 1.6%.
Education
13.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 50% lower than the state rate of 27.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Wayne County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kentucky and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Wayne County, Kentucky?
Wayne County has a population of 19,602, making it the 62nd most populous county in Kentucky.
What is the median income in Wayne County?
The median household income in Wayne County is $45,739 with a poverty rate of 24.8%.
How many cities are in Wayne County, Kentucky?
Wayne County contains 1 Census-designated place.