Tennessee · GEOID 47181

Wayne County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 16,168 · 7,211 housing units

Median household income

$52,294

State $71,186

Median home value

$130,700

State $297,751

Median gross rent

$619

State $1,211

Homeownership rate

80.2%

State 66.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

46.5%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

17.2%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.1%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

6.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

17.0%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.50

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Wayne County	Tennessee
Population	16,168	7,066,383
Population density (per sq. mi.)	22.02	—
Median household income	$52,294	$71,186
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$70,700	—
Households	5,982	—
Average household size	2.41 people	—
Owner-occupied	80.2%	66.9%
Renter-occupied	19.8%	33.1%
Race	89.3% White · 4.3% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Wayne County compared with Tennessee.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

13.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 31.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	23.0%	$36,000	$900	$102,985
1 earner	31.5%	$51,400	$1,285	$160,309
2 earners	36.9%	$87,941	$2,199	$296,327
3+ earners	8.6%	$149,550	$3,739	$525,656

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

5,982

Average size: 2.41 people

Households with children

1,458

24.4% of households

Per-capita income

$27,272

Poverty rate: 18.9%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

80.2% owner-occupied vs. state average 66.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 69.8% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 3.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

48.9% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,982.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $130,700.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $619.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 1,229 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 0.5% · For rent 7.2% · Seasonal 32.0% · Other 55.6%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

12.4% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 87.6% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

5.5%

393 units of 7,211 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

9.5%

683 units of 7,211 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$41,835

100% MHI$52,294

120% MHI$62,753

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Wayne County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$43,700	$49,950	$62,400
100% AMI	$49,490	$56,560	$70,700
120% AMI	$59,400	$67,850	$84,850

HUD FMR Area: Wayne County, TN. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

46.5% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.9% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

17.2% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Wayne County.

Covered employment

3,096

Across 11 sectors

Establishments

209

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$45,847

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	1,439	$52,572	$164,671	+$33,971	$1,314
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	416	$43,023	$129,127	−$1,573	$1,076
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	388	$23,230	$55,450	−$75,250	$581
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	383	$46,226	$141,049	+$10,349	$1,156
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	249	$45,810	$139,501	+$8,801	$1,145
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	120	$39,528	$116,117	−$14,583	$988
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	36	$48,112	$148,070	+$17,370	$1,203
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	28	$60,274	$193,341	+$62,641	$1,507
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	19	$58,225	$185,714	+$55,014	$1,456
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	17	$58,208	$185,650	+$54,950	$1,455
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	1	$10,627	$8,538	−$122,162	$266

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	510	$71,200	$234,011	+$103,311	$1,780
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	383	$46,226	$141,049	+$10,349	$1,156
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	264	$28,559	$75,287	−$55,413	$714
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	214	$46,355	$141,530	+$10,830	$1,159
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	159	$57,723	$183,845	+$53,145	$1,443
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	143	$53,019	$166,335	+$35,635	$1,325
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	121	$71,068	$233,520	+$102,820	$1,777
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	110	$20,224	$44,261	−$86,439	$506
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	97	$15,861	$28,021	−$102,679	$397
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	78	$50,675	$157,610	+$26,910	$1,267
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	56	$38,183	$111,111	−$19,589	$955
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	56	$19,015	$39,761	−$90,939	$475
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	49	$37,364	$108,062	−$22,638	$934
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	46	$31,694	$86,956	−$43,744	$792
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	41	$35,430	$100,863	−$29,837	$886
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	28	$60,274	$193,341	+$62,641	$1,507
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	22	$58,866	$188,100	+$57,400	$1,472
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	9	$26,837	$68,877	−$61,823	$671
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	7	$47,073	$144,202	+$13,502	$1,177
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	2	$66,929	$218,113	+$87,413	$1,673
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	1	$10,627	$8,538	−$122,162	$266

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,250	70	6%	$12.17	$25,300	$63,156	$633
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	3,370	530	19%	$12.53	$26,060	$65,985	$652
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	390	140	56%	$12.75	$26,520	$67,697	$663
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	3,210	(270)	(8%)	$12.85	$26,730	$68,479	$668
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,820	(180)	(6%)	$16.18	$33,660	$94,274	$842
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,110	(120)	(10%)	$16.21	$33,720	$94,498	$843
Tellers SOC 43-3071	460	(60)	(12%)	$16.87	$35,090	$99,597	$877
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,040	(580)	(36%)	$17.30	$35,980	$102,910	$900
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,580	(30)	(2%)	$18.51	$38,500	$112,291	$963
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	840	240	40%	$20.65	$42,950	$128,855	$1,074
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	270	(80)	(23%)	$22.11	$45,980	$140,134	$1,150
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	290	130	81%	$23.37	$48,610	$149,923	$1,215
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	1,550	80	5%	$23.77	$49,440	$153,013	$1,236
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	790	90	13%	$24.57	$51,100	$159,192	$1,278
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	170	10	6%	$25.89	$53,860	$169,466	$1,347
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	240	10	4%	$25.98	$54,040	$170,136	$1,351
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	2,840	480	20%	$26.20	$54,490	$171,811	$1,362
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,610	90	6%	—	$57,320	$182,345	$1,433
Electricians SOC 47-2111	320	(110)	(26%)	$28.25	$58,770	$187,742	$1,469
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,570	220	16%	$36.78	$76,490	$253,702	$1,912

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 47181 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.