1st Advantage MortgageWayne County households have a median income of $53,427 and median rent of $846 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Wayne County, GA: the basics
- Jobs and commutes in Wayne County
- What Wayne County households earn
- Renting and owning in Wayne County
- Wayne County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
- A Wayne County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Georgia
- Four steps for Wayne County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wayne County, GA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wayne County's population at 30,949; only 60 of Georgia's 159 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 642 square miles, that works out to roughly 48.2 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Wayne County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (3 incorporated, 1 census-designated); the largest is Jesup, with about 9,942 residents, or 32% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Wayne County
The biggest employer of Wayne County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 23% of workers, followed by manufacturing (15%). Construction stands out: 13% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 7.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 26% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 10.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Wayne County | Compared with Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +1.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.6% | +4.6 pts |
| Construction | 13.0% | +6.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | -2.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | -0.2 pts |
| Other services | 6.9% | +2.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
What Wayne County households earn
At $53,427, the typical Wayne County household income is 19% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 101st of 159.
| Yearly household income | Wayne County | Gap to Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.7% | +13.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +4.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -9.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -7.7 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 21% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 21.3% of Wayne County residents in poverty, against 13.4% across Georgia. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.440 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Wayne County
A typical Wayne County rental runs $846 a month including utilities, which is 39% below Georgia. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $162,800, a typical Wayne County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 67%. The median year built is 1989.
| Home costs | Wayne County | Georgia | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $846/mo | $1,393/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $162,800 | $303,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 52% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 32.8% | 7.8% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 13% | 10% | n/a |
Wayne County towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 36% of Wayne County residents live in one of the 4. No Wayne County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesup | city | 9,942 | $46,974 | $696 | 3 mi |
| Screven | city | 689 | $35,671 | $777 | 8 mi |
| Odum | city | 453 | $60,795 | $854 | 11 mi |
| Gardi | CDP | 14 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wayne County's, from 17 to 32 miles away. Long County leads the group on income ($68,808), Bacon County trails ($44,694), and Wayne County out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $53,427 | $846/mo | 67% |
| Long County, GA | 17 mi | $68,808 | $976/mo | 65% |
| Pierce County, GA | 22 mi | $60,517 | $799/mo | 76% |
| Brantley County, GA | 25 mi | $58,239 | $755/mo | 80% |
| Appling County, GA | 26 mi | $46,651 | $739/mo | 73% |
| Bacon County, GA | 32 mi | $44,694 | $743/mo | 69% |
| McIntosh County, GA | 32 mi | $50,273 | $800/mo | 80% |
Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 20.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Wayne County | Georgia | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 37.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.2% | 34.9% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.4% | 10.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 20.0% | 12.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.3% | 13.4% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.4% |
| 60+ min | 17.0% |
Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wayne County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Wayne County. For the 20% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Long drives. With 26% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Wayne County budgets.
- 33% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 21% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
A Wayne County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Wayne County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $4,452 a month: gross income for a household at the Wayne County median
- 19% goes to median rent ($846)
- With a 35% ceiling, about $712 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,158 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Georgia
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wayne County, check the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Georgia guide.
Four steps for Wayne County borrowers
Steps that save money for Wayne County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Georgia.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Georgia guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wayne County household make?
About $53,427 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Georgia median.
What do renters pay in Wayne County?
$846 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
Which towns does the Wayne County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Jesup, Screven, Odum, Gardi.
Can Wayne County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Georgia county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Wayne County?
Start with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.