Cost of Living in Wayne County, North Carolina
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 #1,996 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 36%)
Sourced county brief
Wayne County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $928
The median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Wayne County are $928. This value is nearly identical to the North Carolina unweighted county mean for owner costs, which is $927. The median home value in the county was estimated at $178,700, compared to the unweighted state mean of $235,312. For renters, the median gross rent is $965 per month, which is $12 below the unweighted state mean of $977. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Wayne County is 28.7 percent, which is 0.2 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 28.9 percent. Renter households in the county had a median income of $40,456. These figures are snapshots from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey estimates. See ACS table B25071 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 28.7% 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 $965 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $928. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,600 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 North Carolina unweighted mean of county median rents is $977 per month. Wayne County's $965 median is 1.2% 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
19.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,394
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.6%
of gross income
The median home in Wayne County may be a stretch
Median home value is $178,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,427 vs. your max of $1,394.
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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