Wayne County, Kentucky Income Statistics
Wayne County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Wayne County Well below averageLess wealthy than 75% of counties in Kentucky
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wayne County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $45,787 | $64,312 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $37,461 | $52,849 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 3.0% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 1.8% | 7.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wayne County is about 29% lower than in Kentucky. Income has been growing faster in Wayne County (5.4%/yr) than in Kentucky (4.6%/yr).
About 3% of adults in Wayne County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kentucky average of 9%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wayne County, Kentucky grew by 70.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $45,787 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wayne County
| Metric | Wayne County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $47,835 | $60,966 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $36,785 | $49,119 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 23.1% | 19.4% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Wayne County, it is 0.538, lower than Kentucky's 0.547, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 30% more than women's income in Wayne County, Kentucky. Over a 35-year career, a 30% wage gap accumulates to roughly $386,750 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wayne County, Kentucky has widened from about 13% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010, and was narrowest at 4% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,322 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Wayne County widened by 10.6 points while Kentucky's narrowed by 5.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Wayne County | Kentucky Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.8% | 10.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 448 people are unemployed in Wayne County, Kentucky.
The average commute time in Wayne County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 20 minutes in Kentucky.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wayne County, Kentucky has fallen from 14.9% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 16.6% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.9% in 2023.
Wayne County, KY Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wayne County, KY is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 19,602 residents against a local median of 16,867. Wayne County, KY sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 15% above the local median at 5.7% against 5.0%. Wayne County, KY has the 4th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County, KY | 19,602 | $45,787 #3/6 | 5.4%/yr #2/6 | 5.7% #4/6 | 0.538 #3/6 |
| Russell County, KY | 18,221 | $44,784 | 4.6%/yr | 6.4% | 0.552 |
| Clinton County, KY | 9,202 | $44,875 | 5.3%/yr | 5.0% | 0.518 |
| Pickett County, TN | 5,079 | $49,099 | 3.1%/yr | 6.8% | 0.511 |
| McCreary County, KY | 16,867 | $33,374 | 7.9%/yr | 4.2% | 0.624 |
| Pulaski County, KY | 65,897 | $52,614 | 5.4%/yr | 4.9% | 0.548 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wayne County, Kentucky has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Kentucky, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wayne County, Kentucky.
How Rich Is Wayne County, Kentucky?
Wayne County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $45,787, about 29% lower than the Kentucky average of $64,312.
How has median household income changed in Wayne County, Kentucky?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wayne County, Kentucky rose 71%, from $26,808 to $45,787. Over the same years, income here outpaced Kentucky as a whole: +71% against +56%.
What was the median household income in Wayne County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wayne County, Kentucky was $42,320, up 3% from $40,959 in 2022. The Kentucky median that year was $62,783.
What was the median household income in Wayne County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wayne County, Kentucky was $36,854. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $45,787.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wayne County, Kentucky?
The Gini coefficient in Wayne County is 0.538. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Wayne County, Kentucky?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wayne County, Kentucky has widened from about 13% to 23% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010, and was narrowest at 4% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,322 since 2009.
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