1st Advantage MortgageIn Wayne County, Nebraska, the typical household earns $66,215 a year and the typical rent is $800. 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
- Who lives in Wayne County
- Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Wayne County
- The Wayne County job picture
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Wayne County
- Wayne County next to its neighbors
- People and households in Wayne County
- Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
- A Wayne County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Wayne County
- More guides for Wayne County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wayne County
Wayne County is home to about 9,844 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Spread over 443 square miles, that works out to roughly 22.2 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 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Wayne, with about 6,121 residents, or 62% of the county. With so few households sampled, Wayne County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
Wayne County households have a median income of $66,215 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 56th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Yearly household income | Wayne County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.7% | +4.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -5.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -4.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Wayne County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.2%, 3 points higher than the state's 10.6%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.444 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $66,215 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in Wayne County
Renters in Wayne County pay a median of $800 a month, 25% below the Nebraska figure of $1,072. By the Census definition, 48% of Wayne County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $221,600, a typical Wayne County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 61%. The median home was built in 1967, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Wayne County | Nebraska figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $800/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $221,600 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 19% | 22% | n/a |
The Wayne County job picture
The biggest employer of Wayne County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 31% of workers, followed by manufacturing (11%). Education and health care stands out: 31% of workers here, versus 24% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 3% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 14% work from home. 5.5% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Wayne County | Gap to Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 31.4% | +7.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.3% | +6.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +2.6 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.0% | -0.9 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.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Wayne County
6 Census places fall mainly inside Wayne County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 8,461 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Wayne County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne | city | 6,121 | $53,702 | $792 | 6 mi |
| Wakefield | city | 1,305 | $56,964 | $717 | 14 mi |
| Winside | village | 485 | $66,667 | $788 | 3 mi |
| Carroll | village | 286 | $61,250 | $883 | 6 mi |
| Hoskins | village | 250 | $78,750 | $1,359 | 11 mi |
| Sholes | village | 14 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
Wayne County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wayne County's, from 21 to 31 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Wayne County; Stanton County is highest at $80,687 and Thurston County lowest at $69,177.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $66,215 | $800/mo | 61% |
| Stanton County, NE | 21 mi | $80,687 | $902/mo | 78% |
| Dixon County, NE | 23 mi | $72,454 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Pierce County, NE | 25 mi | $72,357 | $884/mo | 78% |
| Cuming County, NE | 27 mi | $71,104 | $789/mo | 69% |
| Cedar County, NE | 28 mi | $73,578 | $716/mo | 80% |
| Thurston County, NE | 31 mi | $69,177 | $699/mo | 61% |
People and households in Wayne County
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Wayne County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.0 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.4% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.7% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.8% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.3% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Wayne County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 59.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.0% |
| 60+ min | 1.9% |
Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Wayne County data, and the practical point behind each:
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Wayne County household budget, worked through
Here is the Wayne County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $66,215 a year is $5,518 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $800, or 14 cents of every gross dollar
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $1,131 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,683 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Wayne County's.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Wayne County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Licensing and complaints for Wayne County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wayne County, check the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
More guides for Wayne County
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Wayne County household make?
About $66,215 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the Nebraska median.
How does Wayne County rent compare with Nebraska?
$800 locally versus $1,072 for the state, 25% below.
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 Wayne, Wakefield, Winside, Carroll, Hoskins and 1 more.
Is the fit check different in Wayne County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Wayne County check a lender's license?
With the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.