1st Advantage MortgageIn Wayne County, Ohio, the typical household earns $73,574 a year and the typical rent is $881. 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
- The Wayne County job picture
- Income in Wayne County compared with Ohio
- What it costs to live in Wayne County
- Counties near Wayne County
- The communities that make up Wayne County
- Debt-to-income at Wayne County's medians
- Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
- Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Wayne County borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Wayne County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wayne County
Wayne County is home to about 116,588 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 24th most populous of 88 county-level areas in Ohio. Packed into 555 square miles, that is close to 210 residents for every square mile of land. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Wayne County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 17 Census places inside Wayne County, Wooster leads by population with about 26,971; 14 of the 17 are incorporated.
The Wayne County job picture
Manufacturing employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 22%. Manufacturing stands out: 23% of workers here, versus 15% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in Wayne County. About 73% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 10.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Wayne County | Compared with Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 23.0% | +8.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 21.8% | -2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.5% | -3.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.3% | -2.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Income in Wayne County compared with Ohio
Wayne County households have a median income of $73,574 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 28th of 88 in Ohio.
| Yearly household income | Wayne County | Gap to Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.4% | -3.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +5.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | +0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.7% | -2.4 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.4%, 4 points lower than the state's 13.3%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.416 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Wayne County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
What it costs to live in Wayne County
Renters in Wayne County pay a median of $881 a month, 15% below the Ohio figure of $1,034. 34% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 16% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $222,100, about 3.0 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. Median construction year: 1975.
| Home costs | Wayne County | Ohio | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $881/mo | $1,034/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $222,100 | $214,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 21% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.7% | 3.4% | 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.
Counties near Wayne County
Distances run center to center, from Holmes County at 18 miles out to Tuscarawas County at 34. Medina County leads the group on income ($94,968), Tuscarawas County trails ($65,044), and Wayne County out-earns 4 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $73,574 | $881/mo | 77% |
| Holmes County, OH | 18 mi | $76,140 | $816/mo | 79% |
| Medina County, OH | 20 mi | $94,968 | $1,143/mo | 80% |
| Ashland County, OH | 20 mi | $69,860 | $888/mo | 78% |
| Stark County, OH | 27 mi | $67,934 | $909/mo | 69% |
| Summit County, OH | 27 mi | $71,622 | $1,026/mo | 68% |
| Tuscarawas County, OH | 34 mi | $65,044 | $908/mo | 69% |
The communities that make up Wayne County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 17 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 46% of Wayne County residents live in one of the 17. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $59,821 in Marshallville to $79,181 in Doylestown. Rent is cheapest in West Salem ($775) and steepest in Apple Creek ($1,000). Live in one of these Wayne County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wooster | city | 26,971 | $66,898 | $918 | 2 mi |
| Orrville | city | 8,343 | $72,569 | $870 | 6 mi |
| Rittman | city | 6,044 | $60,154 | $814 | 11 mi |
| Doylestown | village | 3,048 | $79,181 | $923 | 14 mi |
| Dalton | village | 1,636 | $68,571 | $854 | 10 mi |
| Shreve | village | 1,552 | $66,220 | $809 | 12 mi |
| Smithville | village | 1,330 | $71,944 | $893 | 3 mi |
| West Salem | village | 1,033 | $62,042 | $775 | 15 mi |
| Apple Creek | village | 963 | $71,250 | $1,000 | 6 mi |
| Marshallville | village | 707 | $59,821 | $933 | 9 mi |
| Kidron | CDP | 608 | $70,227 | $975 | 9 mi |
| Fredericksburg | village | 452 | $75,909 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Sterling | CDP | 364 | $61,250 | $792 | 10 mi |
| Burbank | village | 334 | $63,125 | $917 | 12 mi |
Debt-to-income at Wayne County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Wayne County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,131 a month: gross income for a household at the Wayne County median
- 14% goes to median rent ($881)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,326 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,755 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Wayne County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Reading the Wayne County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wayne County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 14% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Wayne County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Wayne County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. About 14% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Wayne County | Ohio | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 39.7 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.1% | 31.5% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.3% | 8.2% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.9% | 6.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.0% | 7.5% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.4% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Wayne County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 41.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 4.8% |
A Wayne County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Wayne County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Ohio borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Wayne County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Wayne County, check the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Ohio: Ohio personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Ohio guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wayne County a high-income county?
Its $73,574 median ranks 28th of 88 Ohio counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Wayne County rent compare with Ohio?
$881 locally versus $1,034 for the state, 15% below.
Should Wayne County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 77% of Wayne County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Wayne County?
By population: Wooster, Orrville, Rittman, Doylestown, Dalton. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Will a Wayne County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Ohio as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.