1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Wayne County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $62,381. 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
- Who lives in Wayne County
- Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
- Renting and owning in Wayne County
- Employment and commuting in Wayne County
- The communities that make up Wayne County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Budget math at the Wayne County median
- Who lives in Wayne County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
- Lender oversight for Wayne County
- Steps before you apply in Wayne County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Wayne County
With an estimated 51,262 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Wayne County ranks 43rd of 67 in Pennsylvania for population. It covers 726 square miles of land, or about 71 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Honesdale is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 4,467 people (9% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
Wayne County households have a median income of $62,381 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 49th of 67 in Pennsylvania.
| Band | Wayne County | Compared with Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.8% | +3.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.9% | +6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.0% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -5.5 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 12.1%, the same as the state's 11.7%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.449 here. A household earning below the $62,381 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Wayne County
Renters in Wayne County pay a median of $1,038 a month, 14% below the Pennsylvania figure of $1,209. 52% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 30% spend half or more. Home values center on $242,100, or 3.9 years of median income. 81% of Wayne County households own their home and 19% rent. The median year built is 1980.
| Measure | Wayne County | Pennsylvania | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,038/mo | $1,209/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $242,100 | $254,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 81% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 24% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% | 3.5% | n/a |
Because most Wayne County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Employment and commuting in Wayne County
The biggest employer of Wayne County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Construction stands out: 11% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.0% in Wayne County. About 75% drive to work alone and 21% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Wayne County workers | vs Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.2% | -4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 11.3% | +5.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -2.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.2% | -4.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Wayne County
The table lists the 10 largest of 10 Census places in Wayne County, by population. Together all 10 hold about 12,406 people, so roughly 76% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $27,284 in White Mills to $86,917 in Wallenpaupack Lake Estates. None of the 10 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honesdale | borough | 4,467 | $47,485 | $1,097 | 5 mi |
| The Hideout | CDP | 2,432 | $48,045 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Wallenpaupack Lake Estates | CDP | 1,232 | $86,917 | $1,673 | 17 mi |
| Waymart | borough | 1,114 | $51,544 | $831 | 7 mi |
| Hawley | borough | 925 | $48,160 | $1,025 | 13 mi |
| Pocono Springs | CDP | 835 | $48,527 | $1,578 | 26 mi |
| White Mills | CDP | 703 | $27,284 | $1,156 | 9 mi |
| Bethany | borough | 279 | $100,250 | $742 | 2 mi |
| Prompton | borough | 248 | $70,625 | $1,100 | 4 mi |
| Starrucca | borough | 171 | $70,278 | n/a | 19 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wayne County's, from 22 to 41 miles away. All of the six report a higher median household income than Wayne County; Monroe County is highest at $83,565 and Lackawanna County lowest at $66,223. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $62,381 | $1,038/mo | 81% |
| Lackawanna County, PA | 22 mi | $66,223 | $1,007/mo | 65% |
| Pike County, PA | 26 mi | $81,323 | $1,378/mo | 87% |
| Sullivan County, NY | 27 mi | $72,382 | $1,106/mo | 67% |
| Susquehanna County, PA | 29 mi | $68,487 | $933/mo | 78% |
| Wyoming County, PA | 38 mi | $72,460 | $943/mo | 78% |
| Monroe County, PA | 41 mi | $83,565 | $1,393/mo | 80% |
Budget math at the Wayne County median
Wayne County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Start: $5,198 gross per month ($62,381 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,038, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $781 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,339 total minus rent leaves $1,301
If your rent is above $1,038, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Who lives in Wayne County, in numbers
23% of Wayne County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.8%, against 5.6% for Pennsylvania.
| People and households | Wayne County | Pennsylvania | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 40.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.7% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 5.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 10.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.6% | 15.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 11.7% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.0% | 5.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Wayne County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 32.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
What the Wayne County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of Wayne County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fixed incomes. Wayne County's median age is 49.2. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- 52% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Lender oversight for Wayne County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Wayne County resident can confirm its license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Pennsylvania guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Wayne County
Steps that save money for Wayne County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Pennsylvania license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Pennsylvania guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wayne County a high-income county?
Its $62,381 median ranks 49th of 67 Pennsylvania counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Wayne County?
$1,038 a month at the median, about 20% of median household income.
Does this page cover Honesdale?
Yes, along with the other 9 Census places in Wayne County, such as The Hideout, Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, Waymart.
Are Wayne County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Wayne County check a lender's license?
With the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.