1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wayne County household earns $55,521, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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, IL: the basics
- How much Wayne County households make
- The Wayne County job picture
- Wayne County housing compared with Illinois
- Places inside Wayne County
- Wayne County next to its neighbors
- A Wayne County household budget, worked through
- Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
- Licensing and complaints for Wayne County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wayne County, IL: the basics
Roughly 15,973 residents live in Wayne County, Illinois, 66th by population among the state's 102 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 714 square miles, that works out to roughly 22.4 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Fairfield is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 4,561 people (29% of the county total).
How much Wayne County households make
Wayne County households have a median income of $55,521 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 94th of 102 in Illinois.
| Band | Wayne County | Compared with Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.7% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.0% | +7.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -8.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.8% | -10.1 pts |
Some 32% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 16.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.8%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.462 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Wayne County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Wayne County job picture
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.4% in Wayne County. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 7.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Wayne County workers | vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | +1.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.0% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.7% | +9.6 pts |
| Construction | 6.3% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | -0.7 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Wayne County housing compared with Illinois
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $657 in Wayne County versus $1,274 statewide. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 22% spend half or more. With a median value of $110,700, a typical Wayne County house costs 2.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 78%. Median construction year: 1974.
| Housing | Wayne County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $657/mo | $1,274/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $110,700 | $263,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 27% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Wayne County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Places inside Wayne County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Wayne County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 6,972 people, so roughly 56% of residents live outside any named place. Cisne has the highest median household income on the list ($59,926) and Fairfield the lowest ($41,989), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Fairfield ($585) and steepest in Wayne City ($829). Live in one of these Wayne County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | city | 4,561 | $41,989 | $585 | 5 mi |
| Wayne City | village | 920 | $54,643 | $829 | 10 mi |
| Cisne | village | 627 | $59,926 | $602 | 6 mi |
| Jeffersonville | village | 263 | $49,583 | $813 | 2 mi |
| Mount Erie | village | 135 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mill Shoals | village | 126 | $58,875 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Sims | village | 123 | $48,194 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Golden Gate | village | 87 | $16,020 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Johnsonville | village | 72 | $55,313 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Keenes | village | 58 | $59,375 | n/a | 13 mi |
Wayne County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wayne County's, from 21 to 28 miles away. Income ranges from $54,813 in White County to $65,746 in Hamilton County; 5 of these neighbors top Wayne County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $55,521 | $657/mo | 78% |
| Edwards County, IL | 21 mi | $60,519 | $811/mo | 79% |
| Clay County, IL | 22 mi | $60,417 | $735/mo | 79% |
| Hamilton County, IL | 25 mi | $65,746 | $568/mo | 76% |
| Richland County, IL | 27 mi | $62,455 | $805/mo | 74% |
| White County, IL | 28 mi | $54,813 | $719/mo | 77% |
| Jefferson County, IL | 28 mi | $63,118 | $885/mo | 72% |
A Wayne County household budget, worked through
Wayne County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,627 a month: gross income for a household at the Wayne County median
- 14% goes to median rent ($657)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,009 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 43% cap, $1,990 total minus rent leaves $1,333
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Wayne County's.
Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. 12.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Wayne County | Illinois statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.3% | 37.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.4% | 9.5% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.1% | 6.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.2% | 11.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 15.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 11.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wayne County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.4% |
| 60+ min | 8.3% |
Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
What the Wayne County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 21% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Licensing and complaints for Wayne County
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the place to verify any lender's Illinois license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Illinois: Illinois personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Wayne County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Illinois borrowers.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Illinois guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wayne County household make?
About $55,521 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 33% below the Illinois median.
How does Wayne County rent compare with Illinois?
$657 locally versus $1,274 for the state, 48% below.
I own my home in Wayne County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 78% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Wayne County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Fairfield, Wayne City, Cisne, Jeffersonville, Mount Erie.
Will a Wayne County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Illinois as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.