State rank#24 of 100
Smallest county118,652 residentsWake County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 37191
Wayne County, North Carolina
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population118,652
Household income$59,733
Unemployment3.7%
Life expectancy73.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Wayne County has 118,652 residents and ranks #24 by population among North Carolina county equivalents. Median household income is $59,733. The annual-average unemployment rate is 3.7%. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within North Carolina
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Wayne County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Wayne County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is mental health access.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $178,700 median home value and $965/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $59,733, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Wayne County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, median home value, and primary care access. College attainment is 21.7% and life expectancy is 73.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Mental health access: 1 per 354 residents, rank #25 of 99 available North Carolina counties.
- Median home value: $178,700, rank #31 of 100 available North Carolina counties.
- Primary care access: 1 per 1,947 residents, rank #43 of 98 available North Carolina counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Uninsured: 13.6%, rank #82 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Life expectancy: 73.2 years, rank #70 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
- Median gross rent: $965/mo, rank #57 of 100; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within North Carolina
Rank and range use only counties in North Carolina with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$59,733
$59,733; below the state county median of $60,230.
State rank #52 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$178,700
$178,700; below the state county median of $219,700.
State rank #31 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$965/mo
$965/mo; above the state county median of $886/mo.
State rank #57 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
3.7%
3.7%; at the state county median of 3.7%.
State rank #49 of 100 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
21.7%
21.7%; below the state county median of 23.5%.
State rank #55 of 100 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
73.2 years
73.2 years; below the state county median of 74.2 years.
State rank #70 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
19.5%
19.5%; above the state county median of 18.9%.
State rank #56 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
13.6%
13.6%; above the state county median of 12.3%.
State rank #82 of 100 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 1,947 residents
1 per 1,947 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 2,158 residents.
State rank #43 of 98 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 354 residents
1 per 354 residents; below the state county median of 1 per 521 residents.
State rank #25 of 99 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Wayne County FAQ
Is Wayne County a good place to live?
Wayne County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing mental health access, median home value, and primary care access. College attainment is 21.7% and life expectancy is 73.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Wayne County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $178,700 median home value and $965/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $59,733, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Wayne County?
Wayne County has 118,652 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Wayne County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 37191; the parent state FIPS is 37.
What is the median household income in Wayne County?
The ACS median household income is $59,733.
How much does housing cost in Wayne County?
Housing benchmarks are $178,700 median home value and $965/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $59,733, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Wayne County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 3.7%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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