Wayne County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in Missouri with a total population of 10,942. It is the 81st most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 4 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 48.2 years. This is 24% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $43,393. This is 37% lower than the state median of $68,920. It is also 45% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 25.1%. This is 99% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. 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 7.7%. This is 87% higher than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $113,100. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wayne County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.0%. The Black or African American population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

11.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 80.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Wayne County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Missouri 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.