Wayne County, Tennessee Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in Tennessee with a total population of 16,251. It is the 76th most populous county out of 95 in Tennessee.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 44.3 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $52,824. This is 21% lower than the state median of $67,097. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 33% lower. The poverty rate stands at 18.5%. This is 35% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 3.8%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $126,600. Housing costs are 51% lower than the state median of $256,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% higher than the state average of 67.0%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wayne County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.6% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.2%. The Black or African American population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 15.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 7.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 1.8%.

Education

12.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 30.4%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.5%.