Cost of Living in Wayne County, Kentucky
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Wayne County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Wayne County ranks #234 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 7%)
Sourced county brief
Wayne County Monthly Owner Costs Below State Mean
Wayne County, Kentucky, reported median selected monthly owner costs of $519, which is $234 below the Kentucky unweighted county mean of $753. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $727 per month, lower than the state unweighted mean of $793. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) stood at 25.2%, a figure 2.0 percentage points below the state unweighted mean of 27.2%. Median home values were $135,700, which is $25,135 below the state unweighted mean of $160,835. The median income for renter households was reported as $31,500. This report utilizes ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates to describe housing tenure and costs; it does not serve as relocation or investment guidance. The provided figures are verbatim from the Census Bureau datasets for this period. See ACS table B25088 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Wayne County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 25.2% of renter household income in Wayne County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $727 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $519. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $29,080 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kentucky unweighted mean of county median rents is $793 per month. Wayne County's $727 median is 8.4% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Wayne County
Rent Burden
19.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,067
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.6%
of gross income
The median home in Wayne County may be a stretch
Median home value is $135,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,083 vs. your max of $1,067.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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