1st Advantage MortgageIn Wayne County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $37,619 a year and the typical rent is $784. 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 by the numbers
- Jobs and commutes in Wayne County
- What Wayne County households earn
- Renting and owning in Wayne County
- Places inside Wayne County
- Regional comparison for Wayne County
- Room for a loan payment in Wayne County
- More Wayne County figures
- Before borrowing in Wayne County
- Mississippi rules that apply in Wayne County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Wayne County by the numbers
Wayne County is home to about 19,718 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 46th most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 811 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 24 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 3 places in the county (1 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Waynesboro, with about 4,518 residents, or 23% of the county.
Jobs and commutes in Wayne County
The biggest employer of Wayne County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by manufacturing (20%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 20% locally and 13% for Mississippi. The survey's unemployment rate for Wayne County averages 7.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.8%). 22% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home.
| Top industries | Wayne County share | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.2% | -0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 20.5% | +7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Construction | 9.1% | +2.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.4% | -1.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.0% | +0.2 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.
What Wayne County households earn
The median household income in Wayne County is $37,619; statewide it is $56,447, so Wayne County runs 33% below Mississippi as a whole. That places it 71st among Mississippi's 82 county-level areas.
| Household income | Wayne County | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 47.2% | +14.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 33.6% | -7.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -4.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -3.0 pts |
Some 47% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 19% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 22.8% of Wayne County residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Mississippi. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.495 here. None of these numbers decides a Wayne County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Wayne County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $784 in Wayne County versus $954 statewide. 73% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. Home values center on $91,100, or 2.4 years of median income. The ownership rate is 85%. Half the housing stock was built before 1985.
| Home costs | Wayne County | Mississippi | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $784/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $91,100 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 73% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 28.9% | 14.4% | 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. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside Wayne County
3 Census places fall mainly inside Wayne County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 5,198 residents, leaving about 74% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Live in one of these Wayne County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesboro | city | 4,518 | $31,684 | $708 | 4 mi |
| Clara | CDP | 540 | $30,645 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Buckatunna | CDP | 140 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Wayne County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wayne County's, from 28 to 37 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Wayne County; Washington County is highest at $61,042 and Clarke County lowest at $46,108. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $37,619 | $784/mo | 85% |
| Clarke County, MS | 28 mi | $46,108 | $801/mo | 82% |
| Jones County, MS | 29 mi | $52,216 | $869/mo | 75% |
| Greene County, MS | 30 mi | $54,276 | $802/mo | 82% |
| Washington County, AL | 32 mi | $61,042 | $655/mo | 86% |
| Choctaw County, AL | 35 mi | $47,813 | $543/mo | 82% |
| Jasper County, MS | 37 mi | $48,660 | $724/mo | 82% |
Room for a loan payment in Wayne County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Wayne County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Wayne County: $3,135
- Housing at the median rent of $784 uses 25%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $345 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $784, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
More Wayne County figures
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. 15.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Wayne County | Mississippi | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.0% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.7% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 15.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.0% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wayne County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 13.6% |
Before borrowing in Wayne County
Based on the Wayne County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Wayne County. For the 15% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 22% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Wayne County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Mobile home upkeep. 29% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 23% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Mississippi rules that apply in Wayne County
Consumer lenders serving Wayne County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Mississippi that is the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Wayne County:
- Price the Wayne County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- A Mississippi license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Wayne County earn?
The median is $37,619; 19% earn $100,000 or more and 47% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Wayne County rent compare with Mississippi?
$784 locally versus $954 for the state, 18% below.
Which towns does the Wayne County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Waynesboro, Clara, Buckatunna.
Is the fit check different in Wayne County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Wayne County residents?
The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance licenses consumer lenders in Mississippi; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.