1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wayne County household earns $52,294, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Getting oriented in Wayne County
- Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
- What it costs to live in Wayne County
- How Wayne County residents earn a living
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Wayne County
- Wayne County next to its neighbors
- More Wayne County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
- Debt-to-income at Wayne County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
- Checklist for Wayne County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Wayne County
Roughly 16,168 residents live in Wayne County, Tennessee, 76th by population among the state's 95 counties and county equivalents. It covers 734 square miles of land, or about 22 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 3 Census places inside Wayne County, Clifton leads by population with about 2,660; 3 of the 3 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
Wayne County households have a median income of $52,294 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 70th of 95 in Tennessee.
| Household income | Wayne County | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 37.0% | +12.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.9% | +0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.1% | -8.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 20% of Wayne County households make $100,000 or more, and 37% make less than $35,000. Census counts 20.0% of Wayne County residents in poverty, against 13.8% across Tennessee. A household earning below the $52,294 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
What it costs to live in Wayne County
A typical Wayne County rental runs $619 a month including utilities, which is 48% below Tennessee. By the Census definition, 47% of Wayne County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $130,700, or 2.5 years of median income. Owners occupy 80% of homes. Median construction year: 1982.
| Housing | Wayne County | Tennessee statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $619/mo | $1,189/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $130,700 | $286,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 25% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 10% | 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.
How Wayne County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Wayne County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by construction (12%). Construction stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Wayne County averages 3.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 4.7%). About 83% drive to work alone and 24% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 8.2% of the total (5.2% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Wayne County workers | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.0% | +4.6 pts |
| Construction | 12.4% | +5.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 12.2% | -0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.0% | +2.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -4.4 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
3 Census places fall mainly inside Wayne County; the 3 biggest are below. They account for 5,952 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,977 in Waynesboro to $54,286 in Collinwood. Rent is cheapest in Waynesboro ($294) and steepest in Clifton ($681). No Wayne County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 3.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton | city | 2,660 | $43,571 | $681 | 13 mi |
| Waynesboro | city | 2,296 | $40,977 | $294 | 7 mi |
| Collinwood | city | 996 | $54,286 | $521 | 6 mi |
Wayne County next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (21 to 30 miles). Lauderdale County leads the group on income ($62,649), Decatur County trails ($45,375), and Wayne County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in Alabama. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Wayne County resident follows Tennessee rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $52,294 | $619/mo | 80% |
| Hardin County, TN | 21 mi | $49,956 | $775/mo | 78% |
| Lawrence County, TN | 24 mi | $54,706 | $763/mo | 78% |
| Lauderdale County, AL | 25 mi | $62,649 | $838/mo | 69% |
| Lewis County, TN | 27 mi | $56,285 | $708/mo | 82% |
| Perry County, TN | 29 mi | $55,972 | $758/mo | 74% |
| Decatur County, TN | 30 mi | $45,375 | $757/mo | 74% |
More Wayne County figures
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 11.4%, against 10.0% for Tennessee.
| Indicator | Wayne County | All of Tennessee | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 38.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.8% | 31.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.0% | 10.0% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 10.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.2% | 12.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.0% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 4.7% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.7% |
| 60+ min | 16.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Wayne County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Wayne County borrowers.
- Hospital bills in Wayne County. For the 11% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Keeping the car running. At 24% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Wayne County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Manufactured homes. 25% of Wayne County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
Debt-to-income at Wayne County's medians
Here is the Wayne County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Wayne County: $4,358
- Less median rent of $619, which is 14% of it
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $906 left for all other debt payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,342 a month
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Checking a lender's license in Tennessee
Consumer lenders serving Wayne County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Tennessee that is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Tennessee guide.
Checklist for Wayne County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Tennessee guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wayne County a high-income county?
Its $52,294 median ranks 70th of 95 Tennessee counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Wayne County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $619 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Wayne County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 3 Census places: Clifton, Waynesboro, Collinwood.
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.
Is there a Wayne County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Tennessee it is the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.