Wayne County, Tennessee Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 76th-largest in Tennessee

The population of Wayne County, Tennessee is 16,251 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 76th-largest county in Tennessee. The median household income is $52,824, the median home value is $126,600, and the median age is 44.3.

The population of Wayne County has declined 5.9% since 2010 (16,981 → 15,974), a -0.44% annualized rate.

Wayne County within Tennessee · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

16,251

Population

-0.44%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$52,824

Median Income

$126,600

Median Home Value

Wayne County covers 734 sq mi of land at 22.1 people per square mile.

About Wayne County, TN

Wayne County is defined demographically by education — 12.5% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree, below the national average. Wayne County is a county in Tennessee with a population of 16,251.

Earnings trail the nation, with the median household making $52,824, below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate is 12.0%, close to the national 12.4%. Housing is relatively affordable, with a median home value of $126,600, with typical rent around $619.

Wayne County is among the least college-educated US counties, at 12.5% — below the national 35.0%. About 8.9% of the workforce is home-based, below the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 31 minutes each way.

Wayne County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Wayne County had a population of 16,981 in 2010 and 15,974 in 2024, a -5.9% growth over 14 years. The peak was 16,997 in 2011. Average annual growth rate: -0.43%.

Wayne County population, 2010–2024 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau — decennial census & Population Estimates

15,974

Population (2024)

16,981

Population (2010)

16,997

Peak (2011)

-0.43%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	16,981	-	-	estimate
2011	16,997	+16	+0.09%	estimate
2012	16,972	-25	-0.15%	estimate
2013	16,918	-54	-0.32%	estimate
2014	16,857	-61	-0.36%	estimate
2015	16,765	-92	-0.55%	estimate
2016	16,754	-11	-0.07%	estimate
2017	16,637	-117	-0.70%	estimate
2018	16,633	-4	-0.02%	estimate
2019	16,644	+11	+0.07%	estimate
2020	16,225	-419	-2.52%	estimate
2021	16,334	+109	+0.67%	estimate
2022	16,259	-75	-0.46%	estimate
2023	16,047	-212	-1.30%	estimate
2024	15,974	-73	-0.45%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	89.2%
Black or African American	4.2%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3.4%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

44.3

Median Age

43.3%

Female

56.7%

Male

19.3%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

3.8%

5–9

4.0%

10–14

5.4%

15–19

4.7%

20–24

6.3%

25–34

13.7%

35–44

13.7%

45–54

14.8%

55–59

5.9%

60–64

8.5%

65–74

11.4%

75–84

6.3%

85+

1.6%

Children (under 15): 13.2% · Seniors (65+): 19.3%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$52,824$-14,273 vs state
Mean household income	$76,998
Per-capita income	$29,526
Poverty rate	12.0%+2.1% vs state
Unemployment rate	1.8%
Employment-to-population	46.5%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

29.6%

Manufacturing

12.3%

Construction

11.5%

Public administration

7.5%

Retail trade

7.1%

Finance & real estate

5.0%

Education & health care

4.1%

Arts, entertainment & food

3.7%

The largest employment sector in Wayne County is professional & business services, accounting for 29.6% of workers.

How residents commute

0.2%

Drive alone

0.1%

Carpool

82.9%

Public transit

8.9%

Work from home

30.6 min

Avg commute

Housing

$126,600$-130,200 vs state

Median home value

$619

Median rent

81.5%

Homeownership rate

7,205

Total housing units

79.6%

Occupied

20.4%

Vacant

18.5%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

87.0%

With health insurance

87.0%

With broadband internet

38.4%

Foreign-born

7.8%

Veterans (18+)

19.0%

With a disability

97.2%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

83.5%

High School+

12.5%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Tennessee

Nashville-Davidson (684,298)Memphis (629,063)Knoxville (193,721)Chattanooga (182,832)Clarksville (171,897)Murfreesboro (157,547)Franklin (85,575)Johnson City (71,455)Jackson (68,098)Hendersonville (62,390)All Tennessee cities →

Other counties in Tennessee

Shelby County (922,195)Davidson County (709,846)Knox County (487,401)Hamilton County (370,913)Rutherford County (351,591)Williamson County (254,609)Montgomery County (227,957)Sumner County (200,553)Sullivan County (159,693)Wilson County (153,587)All Tennessee counties →

Part of Tennessee

Tennessee demographic profile All Tennessee data →

Metro areas in Tennessee

Nashville (2,043,713)Memphis (1,341,606)Knoxville (919,553)Chattanooga (569,333)Clarksville (328,626)Kingsport (309,580)Johnson City (208,934)Jackson (180,844)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Wayne County, Tennessee has a population of 16,251 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 76th-largest county in Tennessee. Population density is 22 people per square mile.

The population of Wayne County has declined 5.9% since 2010 (16,981 → 15,974), a -0.44% annualized rate.

The median household income in Wayne County, Tennessee is $52,824, with mean (average) household income of $76,998 and per-capita income of $29,526. 12.0% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Wayne County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (89.2%), Black or African American (4.2%), Hispanic or Latino (3.4%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Wayne County, Tennessee is 44.3 years. Residents are 43.3% female and 56.7% male.

The median home value in Wayne County is $126,600 and median monthly rent is $619. 81.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 7,205 total housing units, 20.4% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Wayne County, Tennessee is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 29.6% of workers. The unemployment rate is 1.8%.

Nashville-Davidson is among the largest cities associated with Wayne County, Tennessee, with a population of 684,298.