Wayne County, West Virginia 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 85% of counties in West Virginia
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wayne County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $59,127 | $59,640 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,484 | $52,420 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.7% | 4.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.7% | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 5.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wayne County is about 1% lower than in West Virginia. Income has been growing faster in Wayne County (5.7%/yr) than in West Virginia (4.3%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Wayne County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the West Virginia average of 8%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Wayne County, West Virginia grew by 69.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $59,127 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wayne County
| Metric | Wayne County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.533 | 0.554 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,048 | $61,809 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,764 | $47,573 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 22.1% | 23.0% | 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 0.533, lower than West Virginia's 0.554, 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 28% more than women's income in Wayne County, West Virginia. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $464,940 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, West Virginia has narrowed from about 37% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,024 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wayne County | West Virginia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 4.4% | 9.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 778 people are unemployed in Wayne County, West Virginia.
The average commute time in Wayne County is 21 minutes, about the same as in West Virginia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wayne County, West Virginia has fallen from 7.6% to 4.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.9% in 2015 and fell as low as 4.7% in 2021.
Wayne County, WV Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wayne County, WV is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 38,164 residents against a local median of 19,902. Where Wayne County, WV breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 44% above the local median of 4.0%/yr at 5.7%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $59,127 against a local median of $47,137, 25% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Wayne County, WV is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 1.8%/yr on income growth, so Wayne County, WV sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Wayne County, WV has the highest income growth 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, WV | 38,164 | $59,127 #2/6 | 5.7%/yr #1/6 | 4.9% #1/6 | 0.533 #1/6 |
| Lawrence County, KY | 16,077 | $47,137 | 4.0%/yr | 7.7% | 0.552 |
| Cabell County, WV | 92,739 | $56,062 | 5.0%/yr | 5.1% | 0.559 |
| Boyd County, KY | 47,914 | $61,181 | 4.2%/yr | 6.4% | 0.570 |
| Martin County, KY | 11,027 | $36,960 | 3.6%/yr | 5.4% | 0.651 |
| Lincoln County, WV | 19,902 | $46,204 | 3.3%/yr | 5.9% | 0.586 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wayne County, West Virginia has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than West Virginia, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Wayne County, West Virginia.
How Rich Is Wayne County, West Virginia?
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 $59,127, about 1% lower than the West Virginia average of $59,640.
How fast is household income rising in Wayne County, West Virginia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wayne County, West Virginia rose 70%, from $34,809 to $59,127. Over the same years, income here outpaced West Virginia as a whole: +70% against +60%.
What was the median household income in Wayne County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wayne County, West Virginia was $55,551, up 6% from $52,632 in 2022. The West Virginia median that year was $57,884.
What was the median household income in Wayne County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wayne County, West Virginia was $44,088. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $59,127.
What is the Gini coefficient in Wayne County, West Virginia?
The Gini coefficient in Wayne County is 0.533. 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, West Virginia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wayne County, West Virginia has narrowed from about 37% to 22% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 18% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,024 since 2009.
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