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Wayne city, Michigan Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Wayne city, Michigan has a total population of 17,413, the 65th largest city in Michigan, with a median household income of $54,467, which is 23% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.3%.

Key Takeaways

Wayne city Quick Facts

Population 17,413
Median Household Income $54,467
Median Home Value $142,200
Poverty Rate 15.3%
Unemployment Rate 9.6%
Median Age 39.5 years
Homeownership Rate 57.9%
Affordability Ratio 2.6x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.5%
High School Graduation Rate 88.0%
Diversity Index 55/100
Population 17,413 65th of 745
Median Income $54,467 below average
Poverty Rate 15.3% 23% higher national
Median Home Value $142,200 average

How Wayne city Compares

Economy & Housing

Employment

9.6% Unemployment Rate State: 5.8% | National: 5.2%
62.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 57.9%
Renter 42.1%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

55out of 100
High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 44 | National average: 60

Education

Wayne city Rankings in Michigan

#65 Population of 745
#458 Median Income of 745
#471 Education of 745
#392 Home Value of 745

Other Cities in Wayne County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Detroit city 636,644 $39,575 31.5% $76,800
Dearborn city 107,846 $65,192 24.3% $205,900
Livonia city 94,058 $96,317 4.7% $265,300
Westland city 84,155 $62,216 13.3% $176,500
Taylor city 62,405 $59,537 16.7% $141,200
Dearborn Heights city 62,099 $61,035 20.4% $174,900
Lincoln Park city 39,511 $57,183 22.1% $117,400
Southgate city 29,551 $64,635 9.8% $165,400
Allen Park city 28,128 $80,045 6.0% $174,500
Hamtramck city 27,830 $40,103 38.2% $116,400

Cities Similar to Wayne city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Wixom city17,126$68,319$336,20046.6%8.7%
Mount Clemens city15,567$57,663$169,00017.8%14.3%
Owosso city14,658$53,702$121,50019.8%15.6%
Marquette city20,691$55,825$254,10046.2%21.8%
Harper Woods city15,205$61,446$143,60025.0%19.8%

Population Overview

Wayne city is a small city located in Michigan, within Wayne County. The total population is 17,413. It ranks as the 65th most populous out of 745 cities and towns in Michigan.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne city is 39.5 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 40.1 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne city is $54,467. This is 23% lower than the state median of $71,149. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 18% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.1%. The unemployment rate is 9.6%. This is 66% higher than the state rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $142,200. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $217,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Wayne city is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 57.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 21% lower than the state average of 72.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Wayne city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.3%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (25.3% vs 13.2%). The Asian population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 3.3%.

Education

15.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 51% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wayne city, Michigan is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Michigan state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 745 Census-designated places in Michigan. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Wayne city, Michigan?

Wayne city, Michigan has a population of 17,413 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Wayne city, MI?

The median household income in Wayne city is $54,467, which is 31% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Wayne city, MI?

The poverty rate in Wayne city is 15.3%. This means approximately 2,639 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Wayne city, Michigan?

Wayne city's population is 60.8% White, 25.3% Black, 5.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 1.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Wayne city, MI?

The median home value in Wayne city is $142,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.6x.

How educated is Wayne city, Michigan?

15.5% of adults (25+) in Wayne city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 4.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.