1st Advantage MortgageIn Wayne County, North Carolina, the typical household earns $59,733 a year and the typical rent is $965. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- A quick profile of Wayne County
- Employment and commuting in Wayne County
- Income in Wayne County compared with North Carolina
- What it costs to live in Wayne County
- Regional comparison for Wayne County
- Places inside Wayne County
- Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
- What a median Wayne County budget can carry
- Who licenses lenders for Wayne County residents
- Steps before you apply in Wayne County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Wayne County
Wayne County is home to about 118,652 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 24th most populous of 100 county-level areas in North Carolina. It covers 554 square miles of land, or about 214 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Goldsboro, NC metropolitan area. Goldsboro is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 34,383 people (29% of the county total).
Employment and commuting in Wayne County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Wayne County residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. Manufacturing stands out: 14% of workers here, versus 12% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Wayne County. 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Households without a car make up 6.8% of the total (5.3% statewide).
| Sector | Wayne County | Compared with North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% | +0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.8% | -3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Income in Wayne County compared with North Carolina
Wayne County households have a median income of $59,733 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 52nd of 100 in North Carolina.
| Household income | Wayne County | vs North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.1% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -4.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -5.1 pts |
About 28% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. Census counts 17.3% of Wayne County residents in poverty, against 13.0% across North Carolina. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
What it costs to live in Wayne County
Renters in Wayne County pay a median of $965 a month, 21% below the North Carolina figure of $1,228. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $178,700, a typical Wayne County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 61%. The median year built is 1984.
| Housing | Wayne County | North Carolina statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $965/mo | $1,228/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $178,700 | $288,900 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 23.0% | 11.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 13% | n/a |
Regional comparison for Wayne County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (20 to 32 miles). Income ranges from $45,143 in Lenoir County to $83,384 in Johnston County; 1 of these neighbors top Wayne County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $59,733 | $965/mo | 61% |
| Greene County, NC | 20 mi | $53,244 | $853/mo | 67% |
| Lenoir County, NC | 22 mi | $45,143 | $861/mo | 59% |
| Johnston County, NC | 23 mi | $83,384 | $1,146/mo | 76% |
| Wilson County, NC | 24 mi | $56,423 | $953/mo | 60% |
| Duplin County, NC | 29 mi | $55,148 | $865/mo | 70% |
| Sampson County, NC | 32 mi | $52,432 | $834/mo | 74% |
Places inside Wayne County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Wayne County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 54,886 people, so roughly 54% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $166,250 at the median in Walnut Creek, $42,050 in Dudley. Median rent ranges from $808 in Dudley to $1,788 in Walnut Creek. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldsboro | city | 34,383 | $48,540 | $971 | 3 mi |
| Mount Olive | town | 4,453 | $48,700 | $950 | 11 mi |
| Elroy | CDP | 3,251 | $63,238 | $1,005 | 5 mi |
| Mar-Mac | CDP | 2,877 | $53,819 | $821 | 3 mi |
| Brogden | CDP | 2,733 | $42,074 | $1,013 | 4 mi |
| Dudley | CDP | 2,305 | $42,050 | $808 | 6 mi |
| New Hope | CDP | 1,487 | $58,667 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Walnut Creek | village | 1,422 | $166,250 | $1,788 | 8 mi |
| Fremont | town | 943 | $51,667 | $912 | 13 mi |
| Pikeville | town | 776 | $62,396 | $1,065 | 10 mi |
| Eureka | town | 224 | $66,250 | $865 | 15 mi |
| Seven Springs | town | 32 | $118,036 | n/a | 13 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 12.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Wayne County | North Carolina | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.7% | 35.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.6% | 9.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.1% | 9.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.8% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 16.3% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% | 13.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Wayne County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 6.7% |
Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
Where the Wayne County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 12% of Wayne County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Manufactured homes. 23% of Wayne County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
What a median Wayne County budget can carry
Wayne County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,978 a month: gross income for a household at the Wayne County median
- 19% goes to median rent ($965)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,792 total minus rent leaves $827
Two-income households and single earners in Wayne County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who licenses lenders for Wayne County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wayne County, check the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: North Carolina guide.
Steps before you apply in Wayne County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Price the Wayne County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A North Carolina license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The North Carolina guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wayne County household make?
About $59,733 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 17% below the North Carolina median.
What do renters pay in Wayne County?
$965 a month at the median, about 19% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Wayne County?
By population: Goldsboro, Mount Olive, Elroy, Mar-Mac, Brogden. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Wayne County or elsewhere in North Carolina, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Wayne County check a lender's license?
With the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.