1st Advantage MortgageIn Wayne County, Kentucky, the typical household earns $45,739 a year and the typical rent is $727. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Kentucky before sharing details.
On this page
- Wayne County by the numbers
- What Wayne County households earn
- What it costs to live in Wayne County
- Employment and commuting in Wayne County
- Regional comparison for Wayne County
- Places inside Wayne County
- People and households in Wayne County
- Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Wayne County median
- Four steps for Wayne County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Wayne County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wayne County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Wayne County's population at 19,602; only 61 of Kentucky's 120 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 458 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 43 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Wayne County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 1 Census place inside Wayne County, Monticello leads by population with about 5,753.
What Wayne County households earn
Wayne County households have a median income of $45,739 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 93rd of 120 in Kentucky.
| Income band | Share in Wayne County | Difference from Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 42.1% | +14.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.2% | -9.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 1.8% | -5.4 pts |
About 42% of households earn under $35,000, while 15% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 24.8%, 9 points higher than the state's 16.1%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.475 here. A household earning below the $45,739 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Wayne County
Renters in Wayne County pay a median of $727 a month, 25% below the Kentucky figure of $967. 40% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $135,700, about 3.0 times the median household income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. Median construction year: 1986.
| Wayne County | Kentucky | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $727/mo | $967/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $135,700 | $205,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 23% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 22.4% | 10.7% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 10% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Wayne County
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed Wayne County residents work in education and health care and 19% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 19% of workers here, versus 14% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 6.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Wayne County workers | vs Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +1.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.9% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.1% | -3.5 pts |
| Construction | 7.4% | +1.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -1.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.3% | -0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Wayne County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for Wayne County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 30 miles). Pulaski County leads the group on income ($51,898), McCreary County trails ($33,750), and Wayne County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into Tennessee, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $45,739 | $727/mo | 69% |
| Clinton County, KY | 18 mi | $44,844 | $617/mo | 71% |
| Russell County, KY | 18 mi | $44,738 | $681/mo | 71% |
| McCreary County, KY | 19 mi | $33,750 | $577/mo | 74% |
| Pickett County, TN | 22 mi | $49,030 | $564/mo | 83% |
| Pulaski County, KY | 25 mi | $51,898 | $803/mo | 72% |
| Fentress County, TN | 30 mi | $51,149 | $709/mo | 83% |
Places inside Wayne County
Monticello is the only Census place mainly inside Wayne County, with about 5,753 of the county's 19,602 residents. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello | city | 5,753 | $44,952 | $779 | 3 mi |
People and households in Wayne County
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.2%, against 6.0% for Kentucky.
| Measure | Wayne County | Kentucky statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.9% | 27.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.1% | 11.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.2% | 6.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 6.8% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 10.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 16.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
What the Wayne County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 22% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 25% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Budget math at the Wayne County median
Wayne County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $3,812 gross per month ($45,739 / 12)
- Median rent: $727, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 40%, room after rent is $798 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Four steps for Wayne County borrowers
Steps that save money for Wayne County residents:
- Price the Wayne County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Lender oversight for Wayne County
Wayne County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Kentucky guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Kentucky guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wayne County earn?
The median is $45,739; 15% earn $100,000 or more and 42% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Wayne County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $727 a month; 40% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Wayne County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Monticello.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Wayne County or elsewhere in Kentucky, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Wayne County?
Start with the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.