Wayne County, Georgia: commercial real estate data.
Wayne County, Georgia had an estimated 32,132 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 30,141, across 642 square miles. County output reached $1.65 bn in 2024, 639 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 21 7(a) approvals worth $16.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Wayne County
How many people live in Wayne County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202430,949
- Households11,061
- Average household size2.80
- Median household income$53,427
- Median age38.3
- Median gross rent$846 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$162,800
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over20,890
- Population under 187,410
- Share under 1823.9 percent
- Population 65 and over4,987
- Share 65 and over16.1 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6418,552
- Civilian labor force12,527
- Unemployment rate7.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over53.2 percent
- Rank by population among Georgia counties61st of 159
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1451st of 3,222
Wayne County is the 61st largest of 159 Georgia counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 23.9 percent against 16.1 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Wayne County
Is Wayne County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202432,132
- Census 2020 base population30,141
- Population change since the 2020 census base6.61 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024683
- Births, 2024320
- Deaths, 2024427
- Natural change, 2024-107
- Net domestic migration, 2024703
- Net international migration, 202490
- Total net migration, 2024793
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,135
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents339th of 3,144
The county has grown 6.61 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Wayne County
Where are people moving to Wayne County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving767
- People arriving, from those returns1,615
- Tax returns filed by households leaving575
- Net household movement192
- Adjusted gross income arriving$33.8 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$12.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$44,066
- Average income of a leaving household$36,332
- Largest single originGlynn County (85 households)
- Largest single destinationGlynn County (73 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glynn County | 85 | 177 | $4.3 m |
| Liberty County | 62 | 154 | $2.0 m |
| Long County | 37 | 79 | $1.4 m |
| Chatham County | 26 | 44 | $1.1 m |
| Brantley County | 25 | 53 | $1.4 m |
| Appling County | 21 | 54 | $610,000 |
Households arriving report $7,734 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Glynn County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Wayne County
What is the Wayne County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.65 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.48 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 202411.9 percent
- GDP change over five years45.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Georgia areas BEA publishes58th of 159
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1438th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$53,340
Output grew 11.9 percent in the latest year and 45.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Wayne County
Employment by industry in Wayne County
- Covered employment, annual average8,867
- Establishments reporting685
- Average annual pay$50,870
- Average weekly wage$978
- Manufacturing, employment1,479
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$77,072
- Retail trade, employment1,294
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,449
- Construction, employment821
- Construction, average annual pay$59,998
- Accommodation and food services, employment736
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,228
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment205
- Wholesale trade, employment194
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 1,479 | 40 | $77,072 |
| Retail trade | 1,294 | 128 | $32,449 |
| Construction | 821 | 83 | $59,998 |
| Accommodation and food services | 736 | 61 | $19,228 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 205 | 28 | $33,498 |
| Wholesale trade | 194 | 7 | $63,960 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 168 | 17 | $55,186 |
| Other services, except public administration | 162 | 44 | $30,948 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,479 jobs, 16.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Wayne County
How many businesses are in Wayne County?
- Establishments, all industries639
- Employment at those establishments7,669
- Annual payroll$345.8 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Wayne County
Building permits in Wayne County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024165
- Declared construction value permitted$31.0 m
- Single family units authorized133
- Multifamily units authorized32
- Multifamily share of units19.4 percent
- Average declared value per unit$188,176
- Units authorized per 1,000 households14.9
Single-family homes are 80.6 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Wayne County
SBA loans in Wayne County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded21
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$763,752
- Median 7(a) approval$525,000
- 10th percentile approval$75,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,662,000
- Largest single approval$2,936,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)147
- Jobs per approval7.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active11
- Distinct industries receiving approvals19
- Median 7(a) term240 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer57.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms12
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter8
- Franchise loans1
- Franchise share of approvals4.8 percent
- Most active lenderPrimesouth Bank (6)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.9 m
- Average 504 approval$309,333
- Median 504 approval$244,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval8.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved26.9
- Most active CDCCoastal Area District Development Authority, Inc. (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$17.9 m
The average approval of $763,752 sits well above the median of $525,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 57.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wayne County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Wayne County
Do SBA loans in Wayne County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded3
- Paid in full3
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 3 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wayne County
SBA lending by place in Wayne County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Jesup, approvals18
- Odum, approvals2
- Screven, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Jesup | 18 | $12,859,900 |
| Odum | 2 | $2,953,900 |
| Screven | 1 | $225,000 |
Jesup accounts for 18 approvals against 2 in Odum. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Wayne County
How large is Wayne County?
- Land area642 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Georgia counties10th of 159
- Width, east to west30 mi
- Height, north to south34.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land48
- Establishments per square mile1.00
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Wayne County
Flood risk in Wayne County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Wayne County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 130417
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Wayne County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Wayne County (community 130417), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Wayne County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Wayne County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Wayne County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202430,949
- Households11,061
- Average household size2.80
- Median household income$53,427
- Median age38.3
Common questions
Wayne County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Wayne County, Georgia?
The Census Bureau estimates 32,132 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 30,949, in 11,061 households, ranking 61st of 159 Georgia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Wayne County's population growing?
The population has grown 6.61 percent since the 2020 census base of 30,141, to 32,132 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 320 births against 427 deaths, with net migration of 793. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Wayne County?
$53,427. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $162,800, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $846 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Wayne County?
639 establishments, employing 7,669 people with an annual payroll of $345.8 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Wayne County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 1,479 jobs, 16.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,867 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,870, or $978 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Wayne County?
21 7(a) approvals totaling $16.0 m since FY2020, across 11 lenders, with a median approval of $525,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $1.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Wayne County?
165 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $31.0 m. Multifamily was 19.4 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Wayne County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Wayne County come from?
The largest single origin is Glynn County, with 85 households. Arriving households report an average income of $44,066 against $36,332 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Wayne County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Wayne County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Wayne County
Cities and places in Wayne.
4 Census places lie wholly or partly in Wayne County. All 4 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jesup | city | 9,942 | 18 | Wholly in this county |
| Screven | city | 689 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Odum | city | 453 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Gardi | CDP | 14 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |