City · Nebraska
Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne, city, in Wayne County, Nebraska. Wayne had 6,338 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 6.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,973 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,121 (±18). GEOID 3151840.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,338
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,973 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,121 ±18
Median household income
$53,702
±$6,256 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $76,475
Median home value
$228,900
±$33,912 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $238,600
Median gross rent
$792
±$67 (90% margin)
Nebraska: $1,072
Where is Wayne and what county is it in?
Wayne is a city in Wayne County, Nebraska. It covers 2.9 square miles of land, 2,055 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Wayne, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,338 people lived in Wayne on July 1, 2025, up 6.0% since 2020, faster than Nebraska (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 5,973 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,121 (±18).
| Measure | Wayne | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,121 ±18 | 9,844 | +564 |
| Households | 2,182 ±112 | 3,753 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.18 ±0.11 | 2.26 | +0.18 |
| Housing units | 2,291 ±96 | 3,991 | no clear change |
Wayne's population since 2000
From 5,583 in 2000 to 6,338 in 2025: up 13.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Wayne as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Wayne?
The median resident of Wayne is 23.2 years old; 17.2% are under 18 and 12.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 13.6%. 8.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Wayne | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 23.2 ±0.8 | 30.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.2% ±1.8 pts | 20.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.0% ±2.7 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Male | 52.9% ±2.2 pts | 51.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 13.6% ±2.1 pts | 10.3% | +5.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.2% ±2.2 pts | 85.4% | −4.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±1.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±1.2 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.2% ±3.5 pts | 6.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.3% ±3.2 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.2% ±1.5 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 17.0% ±3.6 pts | 16.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.8% ±4.2 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.8% ±3.1 pts | 95.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.6% ±7.7 pts | 30.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.9% ±4.3 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 71.1% ±5.1 pts | 80.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.2% ±1.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Wayne earn?
Half of Wayne's 2,182 households earn less than $53,702 a year (±$6,256), against $66,215 in Wayne County and $76,475 in Nebraska. In 2015-2019 it was $49,645 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Wayne | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,702 ±$6,256 | $66,215 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $68,427 ±$11,045 | $83,400 | – |
| Per capita income | $25,437 ±$3,883 | $32,387 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 19.9% ±5.4 pts | 13.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.4% ±5.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.6% ±4.7 pts | 6.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.0% ±2.9 pts | 95.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.6% ±6.6 pts | 90.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Wayne?
Owners occupy 42.4% of Wayne's occupied homes and renters 57.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $228,900 by its owner (±$33,912). The median renter pays $792 a month including utilities, and 41.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Wayne | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $228,900 ±$33,912 | $221,600 | +$65,218 |
| Median gross rent | $792 ±$67 | $800 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 41.6% ±12.0 pts | 39.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,313 ±$153 | $1,401 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 42.4% ±7.9 pts | 61.3% | −10.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 57.6% ±7.9 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 2,291 ±96 | 3,991 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.6% ±4.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 60.6% ±8.2 pts | 74.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.9% ±1.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.9% ±3.2 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.5% ±6.0 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.1% ±5.7 pts | 25.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.7% ±4.6 pts | 5.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Wayne building?
Builders took permits for 13 new housing units in Wayne in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 2.1 per 1,000 residents against 5.3 across Nebraska.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Wayne work and get to work?
69.7% of Wayne's workers drive alone and 15.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 10.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.5%.
| Measure | Wayne | Wayne County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.9% ±4.5 pts | 67.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% ±3.4 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.7% ±5.8 pts | 70.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.0% ±2.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 11.0% ±5.0 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.4% ±5.3 pts | 14.0% | +8.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 10.5 min ±1.9 | 13.4 min | −4.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Wayne?
1 census tract lies mostly in Wayne (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9787Wayne County | 6,368 | $56,083 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Wayne) · Census block assignment files
How does Wayne compare with other places in Nebraska?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Wayne is the 4,299th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 30th-most populous of 528 in Nebraska.
Wayne ranks 125th of 136 places in Nebraska with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 30th | 528 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 11th | 132 |
| Residents per square mile | 25th | 136 |
| Median household income | 125th | 136 |
| Per capita income | 129th | 136 |
| Median home value | 31st | 135 |
| Median gross rent | 89th | 129 |
| Poverty rate | 5th | 109 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22nd | 135 |
| Median age | 136th | 136 |
| Owner-occupied share | 133rd | 135 |
| Work from home | 6th | 84 |
| Travel time to work | 130th | 135 |
Wayne's figures with every place in Nebraska (CSV)
Every place in Nebraska, sortable · Compare Wayne with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Wayne?
13 of the 57 figures for Wayne on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Wayne are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Wayne.