Your life in Wayne County, Missouri

What stands out

What stands out about Wayne County: violent crime is in the top 4% of American counties (5.1 per 1,000), home internet speed is in the bottom 5% of American counties (70 Mbps), and the restaurant count per person is in the bottom 5% of American counties (0.3 per 1,000). Within Missouri it ranks 7th of 115 counties for violent crime.

Where you are

You live in Wayne County, Missouri. 11,081 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +90).

Missouri stopped taxing Social Security and public pensions for all residents in 2024 and has been cutting its top income-tax rate toward 4.5%. Home prices are well below the national average in both Kansas City and St. Louis. The state's property tax on vehicles, paid every year, surprises new arrivals; tornado exposure is high across the state.

Money

The typical household here brings in $42,758 a year, lower than 91% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $38,066. Unemployment runs 3.6%, higher than 56% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 28 minutes each way.

Missouri takes 4.3% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,829 a year.

Home

The median home costs $130K, cheaper than 91% of American counties, about 2.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $630 a month. Property tax is 0.54% of home value, roughly $598 a year on that median home, lower than 83% of American counties. 74% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 5.1 per 1,000 residents, higher than 96% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 15 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 73.6 years, shorter than 75% of American counties. There are 8 active physicians in the county, about 7.2 per 10,000 people. 12.9% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.57 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 91% of American counties. 82% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 68 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 56% of eligible voters turned out. Under Missouri law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 58°F, highs near 68 and lows near 47, warmer than 59% of American counties. About 36 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 65 out of 100, riskier than 65% of American counties; the county has had 27 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 70 Mbps down, slower than 95% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.3 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Missouri tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.