County · Illinois

Wayne County, Illinois

Wayne County, Illinois. Wayne County had 15,882 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). It holds 30 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs and 20 towns and townships) and 5 census tracts. GEOID 17191.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

15,882

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,179 · ACS 2020-2024: 15,973

Median household income

$55,521

±$3,923 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390

Median home value

$110,700

±$6,140 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300

Median gross rent

$657

±$58 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274

How many people live in Wayne County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 16,179 residents in Wayne County. The Census Bureau estimates 15,882 for July 1, 2025, down 1.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 15,973 over 714 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −166 (15,977)
2021→2022 −109 (15,868)
2022→2023 −36 (15,832)
2023→2024 +51 (15,883)
2024→2025 −1 (15,882)

Wayne County in Illinois. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Wayne County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	15,973	12,694,798	−429
Households	6,866±191	5,036,449	no clear change
Average household size	2.31±0.06	2.46	no clear change
Housing units	7,680±30	5,457,452	−306

Wayne County's population since 2000

From 17,151 in 2000 to 15,882 in 2025: down 7.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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.

2000 Census 17,151
2005 (estimate) 16,910
2010 Census 16,760
2015 (estimate) 16,534
2020 Census 16,179
2025 (estimate) 15,882

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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Wayne County?

Wayne County holds 30 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 20 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government). The largest is Fairfield with 4,794 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Wayne County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Fairfield	city	4,883	4,561±384	$41,989	$88,800	17.7%	100%
Grover Township	township	3,588	3,540±27	$42,267	$97,900	10.3%	100%
Big Mound Township	township	1,769	1,168±233	$34,943	$97,100	29.0%	100%
Jasper Township	township	1,730	1,722±285	$63,864	$113,500	15.3%	100%
Lamard Township	township	1,330	1,385±229	$69,471	$110,400	12.2%	100%
Orel Township	township	1,325	1,452±237	$48,542	$110,300	11.0%	100%
Bedford Township	township	1,045	1,004±207	$59,779	$97,200	9.9%	100%
Wayne City	village	994	920±179	$54,643	$98,300	14.5%	100%
Indian Prairie Township	township	671	670±261	$54,663	$159,000	37.0%	100%
Cisne	village	634	627±154	$59,926	$76,600	6.5%	100%
Orchard TownshipGEOID 1719156367	township	631	1,323±564	$57,411	$237,900	26.0%	100%
Barnhill Township	township	618	572±213	$46,111	$113,000	26.0%	100%
Four Mile TownshipGEOID 1719127364	township	574	460±147	$68,851	$81,400	14.8%	100%
Leech TownshipGEOID 1719142626	township	448	475±213	not published	$109,000	32.2%	100%
Berry TownshipGEOID 1719105521	township	375	193±80	$70,833	$117,200	9.8%	100%
Keith TownshipGEOID 1719139285	township	371	302±177	$66,277	$85,600	3.3%	100%
Hickory Hill TownshipGEOID 1719134501	township	367	328±211	$132,736	$140,600	7.6%	100%
Jeffersonville	village	355	263±77	$49,583	$56,400	15.3%	100%
Mount Erie TownshipGEOID 1719150946	township	345	260±124	not published	$110,200	21.7%	100%
Arrington TownshipGEOID 1719102297	township	330	366±126	$48,056	$154,900	3.8%	100%
Elm River TownshipGEOID 1719123685	township	250	113±68	not published	$178,400	8.0%	100%
SimsGEOID 1770031	village	166	123±40	$48,194	$44,200	11.4%	100%
Garden Hill TownshipGEOID 1719128534	township	157	243±192	$48,621	not published	0.0%	100%
Massilon TownshipGEOID 1719147501	township	147	142±50	$72,125	$154,800	0.0%	100%
Zif TownshipGEOID 1719184194	township	108	255±167	$37,054	$115,900	35.7%	100%
Mount ErieGEOID 1750933	village	98	135±96	not published	$94,300	30.5%	100%
JohnsonvilleGEOID 1738531	village	72	72±50	$55,313	not published	48.6%	100%
Golden GateGEOID 1730250	village	65	87±58	$16,020	not published	27.6%	100%
KeenesGEOID 1739233	village	50	58±38	$59,375	not published	20.7%	100%
Mill ShoalsGEOID 1749347	village	176	126±42	$58,875	$65,800	13.5%	0%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Wayne County?

The median resident of Wayne County is 42.8 years old; 22.5% are under 18 and 22.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 2.1%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Wayne County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.8±0.2	39.0	no clear change
Under 18 years	22.5%±0.3 pts	21.8%	–
65 years and over	22.0%±0.2 pts	17.0%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2.1%	18.8%	+1.5 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	95.0%±0.3 pts	58.1%	−1.2 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.2 pts	13.3%	–
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.6%±0.3 pts	5.9%	–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.0%±0.5 pts	3.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	2.2%±0.5 pts	14.7%	+1.4 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	6.8%±2.9 pts	24.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	6.6%±0.8 pts	4.8%	–
With a disability	17.0%±1.7 pts	12.1%	–
No health insurance coverage	12.1%±3.8 pts	6.9%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	89.6%±2.1 pts	90.5%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	16.3%±2.1 pts	37.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	5.1%±1.0 pts	15.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.6%±0.7 pts	1.6%	–

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 County earn?

Half of Wayne County's 6,866 households earn less than $55,521 a year (±$3,923), against $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 the median was $61,844 in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $6,323 after inflation. 16.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Wayne County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$55,521±$3,923	$83,390	−$6,323
Mean household income	$74,226±$6,553	$115,638	–
Per capita income	$31,813±$2,605	$46,406	no clear change
People below the poverty line	16.1%±3.7 pts	11.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	22.6%±8.5 pts	15.1%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	14.0%±2.3 pts	13.8%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.0%±2.6 pts	90.8%	–

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 County?

Owners occupy 78.4% of Wayne County's occupied homes and renters 21.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $110,700 by its owner (±$6,140). The median renter pays $657 a month including utilities, and 30.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Wayne County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$110,700±$6,140	$263,300	no clear change
Median gross rent	$657±$58	$1,274	−$113
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	30.2%±8.1 pts	39.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,178±$39	$1,987	–
Owner-occupied homes	78.4%±3.3 pts	67.1%	no clear change
Housing units	7,680±30	5,457,452	−306
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.2%±1.1 pts	1.0%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.0%±1.7 pts	5.0%	–
Single-family detached homes	72.3%±2.7 pts	58.2%	–
Mobile homes	21.2%±2.2 pts	2.3%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.6%±0.4 pts	0.7%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	13.9%±2.4 pts	20.2%	–

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 County building?

Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Wayne County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.1 per 1,000 residents.

2019 0 units
2020 0 units
2021 0 units
2022 0 units
2023 0 units
2024 3 units
2025 1 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Wayne County get to work?

80.9% of Wayne County's workers drive alone and 7.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.4%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Wayne County	Illinois	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	57.9%±2.0 pts	65.0%	–
Unemployment rate	3.4%±1.2 pts	5.8%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	80.9%±2.8 pts	65.9%	–
Carpooled	10.1%±2.4 pts	7.8%	–
Public transportation	0.5%±0.2 pts	5.8%	–
Walked	1.0%±0.7 pts	2.8%	–
Worked from home	7.0%±1.9 pts	15.9%	no clear change
Mean travel time to work	24.2 min±1.6	27.8 min	no clear change

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 are Wayne County's census tracts?

Wayne County is divided into 5 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $41,688 (Tract 9552) to $64,250 (Tract 9549).

Census tracts of Wayne County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 954917191954900	Mount Erie (4%)	3,266	3,253±331	$64,250	$123,800	$802	19.5%
Tract 955017191955000	Cisne (10%)	4,335	4,711±432	$62,617	$125,000	$657	17.0%
Tract 955117191955100	Fairfield (89%)	2,714	2,530±279	$48,194	$95,200	$526	12.1%
Tract 955217191955200	Fairfield (81%)	3,032	2,849±324	$41,688	$94,700	$675	19.7%
Tract 955317191955300	Wayne City (19%)	2,832	2,630±226	$57,333	$115,400	$807	10.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Wayne County compare with Illinois's other counties?

Wayne County's rank among Illinois's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	66th of 102
Growth 2020-2025	41st of 102
Residents per square mile	87th of 102
Median household income	94th of 102
Median home value	77th of 102
Median gross rent	94th of 102
Poverty rate	19th of 102
Bachelor's degree or higher	90th of 102
Median age	46th of 102

Every county in Illinois

Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 County 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' school search.