Wayne County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 38,498. It is the 14th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 44.5 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $55,539. This is 4% lower than the state median of $57,917. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 6% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $124,900. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $155,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 74.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wayne County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 0.9%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 3.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.0%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

17.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 23.3%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.3%.