Wayne County, West Virginia Demographics 2026

Name: Wayne County, West Virginia Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Wayne County, West Virginia has a population of 38,164, the 14th most populous county in West Virginia. The median household income is $58,878 and the median home value is $127,100. The poverty rate is 14.6%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Wayne County Quick Facts

Population 38,164

Median Household Income $58,878

Median Home Value $127,100

Poverty Rate 14.6%

Unemployment Rate 4.9%

Median Age 44.8 years

Homeownership Rate 78.6%

Affordability Ratio 2.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 19.2%

High School Graduation 87.5%

Cities/Places 7

Population 38,164 14th of 55

Median Income $58,878 1% lower than state

Poverty Rate 14.6%

Unemployment 4.9%

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	38,498	38,164	-0.9%
Median household income	$55,539	$58,878	+6.0%
Median home value	$124,900	$127,100	+1.8%

Median Household Income

Wayne

$58,878

$59,608

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Wayne

$127,100

$162,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 22.1%

$25K-$50K 20.6%

$50K-$100K 31.6%

$100K+ 25.7%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.3%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

7.3%

$20K-$25K

6.0%

$25K-$30K

5.1%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

3.7%

$40K-$45K

3.8%

$45K-$50K

3.9%

$50K-$60K

8.0%

$60K-$75K

10.0%

$75K-$100K

13.6%

$100K-$125K

10.6%

$125K-$150K

5.6%

$150K-$200K

5.0%

$200K+

4.5%

Employment

4.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.4%|National: 5.2%

50.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 78.6%

Renter 21.4%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $915/mo 18.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

20.4%

18-34

18.9%

35-54

24.4%

55-74

26.9%

75+

9.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 19 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Wayne County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Kenova	2,944	$53,683	9.0%	$109,000
Wayne	1,675	$27,159	25.8%	$82,100
Ceredo	1,528	$49,635	29.1%	$126,800
Lavalette	1,005	$54,554	0.0%	$190,200
Fort Gay	437	N/A	38.0%	$62,300
Prichard	389	N/A	34.7%	$95,500
Crum	187	$44,083	20.3%	N/A

Explore West Virginia Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Wayne County is located in West Virginia with a total population of 38,164. It is the 14th most populous county out of 55 in West Virginia. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wayne County is 44.8 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 42.7 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Wayne County is $58,878. This is 1% lower than the state median of $59,608. It is also 27% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 13% lower than the state poverty rate of 16.7%. The unemployment rate is 4.9%. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 5.4%. The median home value is $127,100. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $162,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Wayne County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 78.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 74.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Wayne County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.7% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.0%. The Black or African American population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 3.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 2.1%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

19.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 24.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.5%.

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 West Virginia 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, West Virginia?

Wayne County has a population of 38,164, making it the 14th most populous county in West Virginia.

What is the median income in Wayne County?

The median household income in Wayne County is $58,878 with a poverty rate of 14.6%.

How many cities are in Wayne County, West Virginia?

Wayne County contains 7 Census-designated places.