Wayne County's composite score of 72.1 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 44 points, establishing it as a highly livable U.S. county. This advantage reflects solid performance across affordability, taxes, and moderate income levels.
2 / 5
Slightly below state average
Wayne scores 72.1 against North Carolina's 72.7 average, ranking it sixth among the eight counties studied. Despite this modest shortfall, Wayne remains well-positioned for statewide livability.
3 / 5
Balanced strengths across dimensions
Wayne performs respectably across multiple metrics: a cost score of 77.8 with median home value at $162,700, tax score of 81.4, and income score of 21.3 (the highest among all eight counties). This balanced profile offers no dramatic weakness.
4 / 5
No single standout advantage
Wayne excels in balance rather than dominance—it ranks mid-pack on most measures rather than leading in any dimension. Safety, health, school, and water quality data remain unavailable for fuller assessment.
5 / 5
Solid choice for steady, practical families
Wayne County suits practical families seeking a well-rounded county with reasonable housing, moderate taxes, and working-class income levels. If you value steady performance and balanced livability over standout advantages, Wayne delivers dependable living.
Wayne County's composite score of 72.1 significantly exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 44 points, establishing it as a highly livable U.S. county. This advantage reflects solid performance across affordability, taxes, and moderate income levels.
Slightly below state average
Wayne scores 72.1 against North Carolina's 72.7 average, ranking it sixth among the eight counties studied. Despite this modest shortfall, Wayne remains well-positioned for statewide livability.
Balanced strengths across dimensions
Wayne performs respectably across multiple metrics: a cost score of 77.8 with median home value at $162,700, tax score of 81.4, and income score of 21.3 (the highest among all eight counties). This balanced profile offers no dramatic weakness.
No single standout advantage
Wayne excels in balance rather than dominance—it ranks mid-pack on most measures rather than leading in any dimension. Safety, health, school, and water quality data remain unavailable for fuller assessment.
Solid choice for steady, practical families
Wayne County suits practical families seeking a well-rounded county with reasonable housing, moderate taxes, and working-class income levels. If you value steady performance and balanced livability over standout advantages, Wayne delivers dependable living.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛81.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Wayne County's effective tax rate of 0.744% sits modestly above the national median of 0.712%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier of counties nationwide. The median property tax of $1,210 remains well below the national median of $2,690, reflecting Wayne's more moderate median home value of $162,700.
Wayne exceeds North Carolina average
At 0.744%, Wayne's effective rate runs 6% above North Carolina's state average of 0.701%, positioning it among the state's moderately higher-taxed counties. The median property tax of $1,210 falls below the state median of $1,433 due to lower home valuations in the county.
Wayne sits mid-range for the region
Wayne's 0.744% rate falls between Union's favorable 0.614% and Vance's 0.806%, placing it near the regional center. Compared to Western NC options like Watauga (0.415%), Wayne carries a noticeably higher tax burden.
A $162,700 home costs $1,210 yearly
The typical Wayne homeowner with a median-valued home of $162,700 pays approximately $1,210 in annual property taxes at the county's 0.744% rate. Those with mortgages pay an estimated $1,373 per year, while owners without mortgages pay around $935.
Assessment review protects your wallet
Wayne County homeowners should verify their assessments align with recent comparable sales in their neighborhoods. Filing an appeal if your valuation seems inflated can result in lower taxes and meaningful annual savings.
Wayne County's median household income of $58,082 runs 22% below the national average, yet its 19.3% rent-to-income ratio stays relatively close to national norms. The $932 median rent reflects a small manufacturing and agricultural economy that has maintained rough balance between wages and housing costs.
Moderate Affordability in Eastern NC
Wayne County's 19.3% rent-to-income ratio slightly exceeds North Carolina's 18.6% average, placing it in the middle range of this comparison. For a rural county with modest wages, Wayne demonstrates reasonable stability in the housing market.
Mid-Market Pricing, Mid-Market Wages
Wayne's $932 rent and $58,082 median income position it as the moderate option across Eastern North Carolina in this comparison. The county sits between rural affordability (Tyrrell, Warren) and rural strain (Washington, Vance), offering balance without premium or severe constraints.
Balanced Housing Burden Across Tenures
Wayne renters allocate $932 monthly (19.3% of income) while homeowners spend $903 (18.7%), both hovering near the 20% sustainability threshold. With median home values at $162,700, the county offers accessible homeownership for local wage earners.
Wayne Offers Eastern NC's Best Balance
Wayne County's 19.3% rent-to-income ratio represents perhaps the best achievable balance in Eastern North Carolina—higher than affluent areas but more sustainable than severely strained counties. This county suits workers seeking stable, modest-cost living without extreme rural isolation or premium pricing.
Wayne County's median household income of $58,082 is 22% below the national median of $74,755. The county's economy centers on agriculture, manufacturing, and regional trade, limiting high-wage opportunities.
Below North Carolina average
Wayne ranks in the lower-middle tier of North Carolina counties at $58,082, earning 5% less than the state average of $61,072. Manufacturing employment and agricultural heritage shape the county's economic profile.
Mid-tier earner in its region
Wayne's $58,082 exceeds rural counties like Vance ($46,943) and Watauga ($51,367) but trails the prosperity of Union and Wake counties. The county occupies a middle position economically within eastern and central North Carolina.
Reasonable housing affordability
Wayne's rent-to-income ratio of 19.3% indicates housing costs remain manageable for households near the median income. A median home value of $162,700 is achievable for households earning at or slightly above the county median.
Build steady financial progress
Wayne County households earning near the median have meaningful capacity to save and invest. Focus on employer retirement plans, automatic savings accounts, and diversified investments to steadily accumulate wealth over decades.
Wayne County residents live 73.2 years, just below the U.S. average of 73.4 and 1.2 years below North Carolina's 74.4-year baseline. Nearly one in five (19.5%) report poor or fair health, suggesting moderate chronic disease burden and limited preventive care access. Wayne faces health challenges that require targeted intervention.
Below-average health outcomes for NC
Wayne's 73.2-year life expectancy ranks fourth from the bottom among the eight profiled counties, trailing North Carolina's average by 1.2 years. Its 19.5% poor/fair health rate sits in the middle-to-worse range, indicating both chronic disease burden and care access gaps. Wayne has room for substantial health improvement.
Moderate care infrastructure
Wayne's 51 primary care providers and 282 mental health providers per 100,000 residents place it in the middle tier—better than Warren (5 primary, 117 mental) and Washington (46 primary, 103 mental), but trailing Union (69 primary, 147 mental) and Watauga (79 primary, 524 mental). The mental health workforce is relatively strong, but primary care falls short of the state's healthiest counties. Workforce gaps compound access barriers.
Above-average uninsured rate
Wayne's 13.6% uninsured rate tops North Carolina's 12.5% average, meaning roughly 4,100 residents lack coverage. With 51 primary care providers per 100,000—less than Union's 69 or Watauga's 79—residents face both insurance and access constraints. Uninsured status and sparse primary care create dual barriers to preventive and routine care.
Make coverage your first priority
With 13.6% uninsured and limited primary care access, securing health coverage through Medicaid or Marketplace plans is essential for Wayne residents. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 to explore your options. Coverage opens the door to preventive care that can prevent early mortality and reduce chronic disease burden.
Wayne County's composite risk score of 90.39 qualifies as Relatively Moderate but places it among the highest-risk counties in the nation. The county faces multiple serious natural disaster threats simultaneously.
Second-highest risk in North Carolina
Wayne's 90.39 score ranks second only to Wake County (95.55) among all North Carolina counties, far exceeding the state average of 66.72. Only a handful of counties nationwide face comparable overall exposure.
Riskier than all surrounding counties
Wayne (90.39) vastly exceeds every adjacent county in risk level, including Union (89.06) and Wake (95.55). The county's Coastal Plain position and proximity to major transportation corridors amplify exposure across multiple hazard types.
Hurricanes, floods, and tornados converge
Hurricane risk peaks at 96.54, flood risk at 89.28, and tornado risk at 89.89—Wayne faces extreme exposure across three categories. Earthquake risk of 73.79 adds a fourth significant concern rarely seen in this region.
Comprehensive coverage is essential
Wayne residents must obtain flood insurance, verify windstorm/hail coverage on homeowners policies, and establish tornado shelter plans. The convergence of hurricane, flood, and tornado risks demands layered protection—no single policy covers all threats in this high-risk county.