Wayne County, North Carolina
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 122,278
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 122,278
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 120,338
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 117,327
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 117,327
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) 4.2%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) 2.6%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 117,333
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 122,623
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 6.6%
Persons under 18 years, percent 23.6%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 17.8%
Female persons, percent 50.4%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 62.2%
Black alone, percent(a) 32.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 1.0%
Asian alone, percent(a) 1.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.2%
Two or More Races, percent 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 14.9%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 50.2%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 9,996
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 7.9%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 55,106
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 61.5%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $178,700
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $1,367
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $451
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $965
Building Permits, 2025 954
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 47,507
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.44
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 86.1%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 14.8%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 93.5%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 90.0%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 86.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 21.7%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 10.6%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 14.0%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 57.4%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 54.8%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 301,301
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 823,502
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 129,131
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 2,124,846
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $18,092
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 22.9
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $59,733
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $31,983
Persons in poverty, percent 19.3%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 2,195
Total employment, 2023 33,629
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 1,436,843
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 3.2%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 7,798
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,678
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,083
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,063
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,296
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 211.8
Population per square mile, 2010 221.7
Land area in square miles, 2020 553.92
Land area in square miles, 2010 553.09
FIPS Code 37191