Wayne County

Wayne County, NC, has a population of approximately 117,000 people. The racial composition is around 55% White, 33% Black/African American, and 10% Hispanic/Latino. About 1.5% are Asian, and 3.5% identify with two or more races. The median household income is about $44,000, and the poverty rate stands at around 18%. The median age is approximately 37 years.

As of 2023, Wayne County, NC has a median home value of around $140,000. The median rent is approximately $800 per month. The homeownership rate is about 58.3%, while around 41.7% of residents are renters. The average property tax is roughly $1,100 annually. Housing market trends indicate a yearly appreciation rate of approximately 3.5%. The county offers a mix of urban and rural living, primarily centered around Goldsboro, the largest city in Wayne County.

Wayne County, NC, holds elections for local, state, and federal offices. Key positions include county commissioners, sheriff, board of education members, and judges. In the 2022 midterm elections, voter turnout was 51.9%.

Candidates for major offices in recent years:

• County Commissioner: Incumbent Joe Daughtery (R) vs. Chris Gurley (D)
• Sheriff: Incumbent Larry Pierce (R) vs. Beverly Boltinhouse (D)
• Board of Education: Multiple seats contested, key districts include incumbent Jennifer Strickland vs. Rusty MacAllister in District 3.

Other key races:

• U.S. House, District 7: Incumbent David Rouzer (R) vs. Charles Graham (D)

Wayne County generally leans Republican in both local and national elections. Voter registration as of 2022 showed 39% Republican, 32% Democrat, and 29% Unaffiliated.

For detailed and up-to-date information, visit the Wayne County Board of Elections website.

Wayne County, NC has notable educational statistics. As of the latest available data, approximately 84.7% of residents aged 25 and older have at least a high school diploma, which is slightly below both the national average of 88% and the North Carolina state average of 86%. Regarding higher education, around 17.2% of the county’s population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, whereas the national average stands at 33.1% and the state average is 31%. Thus, Wayne County lags behind both the national and state averages in educational attainment, particularly at the bachelor's degree level and higher.

As of recent data, Wayne County, NC, has a labor force participation rate of approximately 58.3%, with an unemployment rate around 5.1%. Key industries include manufacturing (23.4% of employment), health care and social assistance (16.1%), retail trade (11.2%), and educational services (9.3%).

In comparison, North Carolina's state averages for these sectors are: manufacturing (10.5%), health care and social assistance (13.6%), retail trade (11.1%), and educational services (8.1%). Nationally, manufacturing comprises about 8.5% of employment, health care and social assistance 14.7%, retail trade 10.0%, and educational services 9.0%.

Thus, Wayne County has a higher concentration of manufacturing jobs compared to both state and national averages. Health care employment is slightly higher than the state but generally aligns with national figures. Retail trade and educational services are fairly consistent with both state and national percentages.

As of the latest data, the median household income in Wayne County, NC, is approximately $44,000. This is significantly lower than both the national average and the state average. The national median household income stands around $68,700, while the median for North Carolina is about $54,600.

This disparity highlights economic challenges within Wayne County compared to broader state and national benchmarks.

As of the latest available data, Wayne County, NC has the following crime statistics (per 100,000 residents):

• Violent Crime Rate: 410
• Property Crime Rate: 2,820

Crime Statistics Table:

These values reflect trends in crime rates which can help inform community safety initiatives and law enforcement resource allocation. Note that these numbers are subject to change as new data becomes available.