1st Advantage MortgageThe median Wayne County household earns $76,607, and 11% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Utah license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Wayne County
- Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
- Renting and owning in Wayne County
- Jobs and commutes in Wayne County
- Wayne County towns compared
- Wayne County and the counties next door
- Debt-to-income at Wayne County's medians
- People and households in Wayne County
- Before borrowing in Wayne County
- Lender oversight for Wayne County
- A Wayne County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Wayne County
Wayne County is home to about 2,584 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 29 county-level areas in Utah. It covers 2,461 square miles of land, or about 1 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 7 Census places inside Wayne County, Loa leads by population with about 467; 5 of the 7 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Wayne County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Wayne County
The median household income in Wayne County is $76,607; statewide it is $95,166, so Wayne County runs 20% below Utah as a whole. That places it 17th among Utah's 29 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Wayne County | Gap to Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | +6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 31.8% | -1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.1% | -7.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 38% of Wayne County households make $100,000 or more, and 20% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.6% of Wayne County residents in poverty, against 8.5% across Utah. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.388 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Renting and owning in Wayne County
A typical Wayne County rental runs $884 a month including utilities, which is 41% below Utah. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 19% of renter households here. With a median value of $411,800, a typical Wayne County house costs 5.4 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 79% of homes. The median year built is 1985.
| Home costs | Wayne County | Utah | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $884/mo | $1,496/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $411,800 | $489,400 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 19% | 47% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 25% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.3% | 2.9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Jobs and commutes in Wayne County
Construction employs 19% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 19%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 1% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 64% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 2.3% of the total (4.1% statewide).
| Where residents work | Wayne County | Difference from Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 19.5% | +11.4 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.2% | -3.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 16.1% | +7.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.5% | +14.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.8% | -2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -5.9 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Wayne County towns compared
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 83% of Wayne County residents live in one of the 7. Live in one of these Wayne County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loa | town | 467 | $98,603 | $882 | 37 mi |
| Bicknell | town | 446 | $76,932 | $886 | 31 mi |
| Torrey | town | 323 | $64,583 | n/a | 24 mi |
| Teasdale | CDP | 308 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
| Lyman | town | 289 | n/a | n/a | 34 mi |
| Hanksville | town | 215 | $38,274 | $1,005 | 17 mi |
| Fremont | CDP | 90 | $69,489 | n/a | 36 mi |
Wayne County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Wayne County's, from 39 to 82 miles away. Income ranges from $48,393 in Piute County to $77,092 in Kane County; 1 of these neighbors top Wayne County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | - | $76,607 | $884/mo | 79% |
| Garfield County, UT | 39 mi | $61,875 | $817/mo | 70% |
| Emery County, UT | 54 mi | $74,291 | $739/mo | 80% |
| Sevier County, UT | 56 mi | $74,884 | $912/mo | 78% |
| Piute County, UT | 62 mi | $48,393 | $950/mo | 95% |
| San Juan County, UT | 80 mi | $64,481 | $867/mo | 81% |
| Kane County, UT | 82 mi | $77,092 | $1,072/mo | 80% |
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.
- $6,384 a month: gross income for a household at the Wayne County median
- Less median rent of $884, which is 14% of it
- At 40%, room after rent is $1,670 a month
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
People and households in Wayne County
28% of Wayne County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Wayne County | All of Utah | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 32.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.7% | 37.7% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.4% | 6.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 8.4% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 24.0% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 8.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 71.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 10.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Before borrowing in Wayne County
Where the Wayne County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Lender oversight for Wayne County
The Utah Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Utah license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Utah state guide for the statewide picture.
A Wayne County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Wayne County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Wayne County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Utah license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Utah guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wayne County a high-income county?
Its $76,607 median ranks 17th of 29 Utah counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Wayne County rent compare with Utah?
$884 locally versus $1,496 for the state, 41% below.
Should Wayne County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 79% 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.
Which towns does the Wayne County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 7 Census places: Loa, Bicknell, Torrey, Teasdale, Lyman.
Can Wayne County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Utah county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.