CountyScore

Wayne County

Missouri · MO

#53 in Missouri
70.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Wayne County, Missouri

Wayne County Highest Score in Group

Wayne County's composite score of 79.4 powerfully outperforms the national median of 50.0, ranking among America's most livable counties. This 59% advantage represents the strongest performance in this eight-county comparison.

Missouri's Most Livable County Here

Wayne County significantly exceeds Missouri's state average of 74.8, ranking at the top of this county group and among the state's best. Its commanding score reflects truly exceptional livability conditions.

Cheapest Living in the Group

Wayne County boasts the group's highest cost score of 89.7 and a tax score of 88.2, with median rent of just $632 per month and median home values of $113,100. An effective tax rate of 0.500% provides the lowest tax burden in the group.

Income Opportunities Severely Limited

The income score of 11.7 and median household income of $43,393 represent significant employment challenges, indicating very limited high-wage job availability. Data on safety, health, schools, environmental factors, and risk is currently unavailable.

Unbeatable for Financial Minimalists

Wayne County suits households with remote income, passive income, or fixed incomes seeking the absolute lowest cost of living possible. For those prioritizing financial security and maximal purchasing power above all else, Wayne County offers unmatched affordability.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax88.2Cost89.7SafetyComing SoonHealth58.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome11.7Risk33WaterComing Soon
🏛88.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.7
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼11.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡33
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Wayne County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Petersburg Borough
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70.3
Median income: $53,498
Johnson County
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70.3
Median income: $54,183
Pulaski County
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70.3
Median income: $47,688
Webster County
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70.3
Median income: $40,764

Deep Dives

Wayne County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Wayne County

via TaxByCounty

Wayne County among lowest-tax U.S. areas

Wayne County's effective tax rate of 0.500% ranks in the bottom 10% of American counties, offering exceptional tax relief for homeowners. The median annual tax of just $565 is only 21% of the national median of $2,690.

Missouri's lowest effective tax rate

Wayne County's 0.500% rate is the lowest among the eight counties profiled and ranks in Missouri's bottom tier statewide. The county's median tax of $565 represents half the state median of $1,199, making it the most tax-friendly option in this comparison.

Lowest taxes in the south-central Ozarks

Wayne County's 0.500% rate is the lowest in its region, beating all nearby counties including Stone County (0.493%), Texas County (0.529%), and Washington County (0.576%). The county offers unmatched tax affordability for rural property owners.

A $113,100 home costs $565 yearly

The median Wayne County home valued at $113,100 generates an estimated annual property tax of just $565. With a mortgage, homeowners pay approximately $646, while those without mortgages pay around $532.

Double-check your property valuation

Wayne County homeowners should verify their assessments match fair market value, even in this low-tax environment. A free appeal with the county assessor can ensure you're not overpaying on an already-affordable tax bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Wayne County

via CostByCounty

Wayne County's poverty pressures housing

Wayne County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio matches Stone County's strain, yet results from more severe economic hardship: a median household income of just $43,393—the lowest among these eight counties. Even the region's cheapest rent at $632 consumes a troubling share of already-scarce earnings.

Economic struggle meets modest rents

Wayne County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Missouri's worst, but its $632 median rent—the lowest statewide here—reflects the county's rural, economically challenged profile. The fundamental issue isn't housing cost; it's the county's $43,393 median income, lowest in this entire group.

Cheapest rents in the entire region

Wayne County's $632 median rent undercuts every peer here, making it the most affordable option for renters seeking minimum monthly costs. However, the county's $43,393 median income—$5,000 below Texas County's already-low figure—means affordability remains illusory for households struggling to find work.

Bargain housing, vanishing incomes

Renters in Wayne County pay the region's lowest rent at $632 monthly, and homeowners pay just $494—both extraordinary values—yet the $43,393 median household income remains the county's binding constraint. Housing costs consume 17.5% of gross income for renters and 13.7% for owners, but finding that income is the real challenge.

Cheapest housing masks deeper problems

Wayne County offers rock-bottom housing at $632 rent and $494 mortgages with home values under $115,000, tempting budget hunters. However, the county's median income of $43,393 signals serious economic distress—verify job prospects before relocating, as housing savings cannot offset scarcity of employment.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Wayne County

via IncomeByCounty

Wayne County faces severe income challenges

Wayne County's median household income of $43,393 is 42% below the national median of $74,755, representing one of the steepest income gaps in the region. This substantial shortfall reflects limited employment opportunities and economic distress affecting most county families.

Missouri's lowest-income county profiled

Wayne County's $43,393 median income trails Missouri's state average of $59,503 by $16,110, placing it at the bottom of these county rankings. Per capita income of $24,091 falls 22% below the state average of $31,011.

Lowest earner in the profiled counties

Wayne County's $43,393 income ranks below all other counties—Texas County ($48,055) is the next-lowest, while other neighbors earn substantially more. This gap reflects Wayne County's isolation and reliance on agriculture and declining manufacturing.

Housing costs strain tight budgets

Wayne County's rent-to-income ratio of 17.5% represents the highest burden in the county group, stretching household budgets despite low absolute costs. The median home value of $113,100 still represents a significant commitment for families earning $43,393.

Prioritize financial stability and support

Wayne County families face the tightest financial margins and should seek community financial literacy programs, employer benefits, and government assistance resources. Even small savings habits and reduced debt can meaningfully improve long-term financial stability.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Wayne County

via HealthByCounty

Wayne County's life expectancy well below average

Wayne County's life expectancy of 71.2 years falls 3.3 years short of the U.S. average of 74.5 years, and 21.3% of residents report poor or fair health. This combination places Wayne County among America's communities facing the most severe health challenges.

Among Missouri's least healthy counties

Wayne County's 71.2-year life expectancy is 3.1 years below Missouri's 74.3 average, ranking it in the state's bottom tier. The 21.3% poor/fair health rate compounds the county's struggle, signaling widespread health burdens.

Struggling in a struggling region

Wayne County's 71.2-year life expectancy edges ahead of Washington County (69.7) but trails all other nearby counties, with Stone County (76.0) and Warren County (75.6) far ahead. At 21.3% poor/fair health, Wayne ranks among the region's worst.

Highest uninsured rate, struggling for access

Wayne County's 14.2% uninsured rate ranks among the highest in the region, above Missouri's 12.5% average, limiting healthcare access. Despite 46 primary care providers and 120 mental health providers per 100,000, uninsurance creates a significant barrier to care.

Getting covered is critical

With 14.2% uninsured and below-average life expectancy, Wayne County residents must prioritize health insurance enrollment through the Missouri marketplace or Medicaid. Coverage enables access to the county's available providers and supports preventive care to improve community health.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Wayne County

via RiskByCounty

Wayne County above national average risk

Wayne County scores 67.02 on composite risk, earning a Relatively Low rating while exceeding the national average and positioning it in the higher tier of U.S. counties. The score reflects Wayne's Ozark location and exposure to multiple hazard types, particularly seismic and tornadic threats.

Elevated for Missouri standards

Wayne County's 67.02 composite score well exceeds Missouri's state average of 50.56, ranking it among the state's higher-hazard jurisdictions. This elevation reflects the county's Ozark geography and vulnerability to earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods.

Hotspot alongside Taney and Washington

Wayne County (67.02) sits within the intense Ozark risk cluster that includes Taney (84.03), Washington (67.78), and Stone (76.75). The county faces substantially higher exposure than neighboring Shannon and Oregon counties, marking the Ozark region as distinctly more hazardous.

Earthquakes dominate; floods secondary

Earthquake risk reaches 85.53—the county's dominant hazard and among the state's highest—while flood exposure hits 68.58, both reflecting Ozark seismic and hydrologic realities. Tornado risk (70.10) adds a third major threat, creating a complex and substantial disaster exposure profile.

Earthquake coverage non-negotiable

Wayne County's 85.53 earthquake score makes a separate earthquake endorsement or policy essential, not optional—standard homeowners policies exclude seismic damage. Add flood insurance and comprehensive wind coverage to create multi-layered protection against the county's earthquake, flood, and tornado trio.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.