HomeWest VirginiaWayne County
Wayne County, West Virginia: commercial real estate data.
Wayne County, West Virginia had an estimated 37,589 residents on July 1, 2024, down 3.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,980, across 506 square miles. County output reached $1.35 bn in 2024, 434 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 9 7(a) approvals worth $10.4 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 2020-202438,164
- Households15,762
- Average household size2.42
- Median household income$58,878
- Median age44.8
- Median gross rent$915 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$127,100
- Home value to household income2.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over27,532
- Population under 187,783
- Share under 1820.4 percent
- Population 65 and over8,485
- Share 65 and over22.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6421,896
- Civilian labor force15,921
- Unemployment rate4.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over52.4 percent
- Rank by population among West Virginia counties14th of 55
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1248th of 3,222
Wayne County is the 14th largest of 55 West Virginia counties by population. A median home costs 2.2 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 22.2 percent against 20.4 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Wayne County
Is Wayne County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202437,589
- Census 2020 base population38,980
- Population change since the 2020 census base-3.57 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-190
- Births, 2024380
- Deaths, 2024565
- Natural change, 2024-185
- Net domestic migration, 2024-25
- Net international migration, 202420
- Total net migration, 2024-5
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-405
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2832nd of 3,144
The county has lost 3.57 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
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 arriving705
- People arriving, from those returns1,323
- Tax returns filed by households leaving815
- Net household movement-110
- Adjusted gross income arriving$29.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-4.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$41,494
- Average income of a leaving household$41,443
- Largest single originCabell County (269 households)
- Largest single destinationCabell County (304 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabell County | 269 | 495 | $10.3 m |
| Lawrence County | 39 | 71 | $1.9 m |
| Lawrence County | 32 | 64 | $1.2 m |
| Boyd County | 29 | 63 | $1.4 m |
| Mingo County | 25 | 47 | $1.0 m |
| Kanawha County | 22 | 31 | $536,000 |
Households arriving report $51 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 Cabell 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$1.35 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.26 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.3 percent
- GDP change over five years32.0 percent
- Rank by GDP among the West Virginia areas BEA publishes19th of 55
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1598th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$35,306
Output grew 7.3 percent in the latest year and 32.0 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 average8,494
- Establishments reporting704
- Average annual pay$59,886
- Average weekly wage$1,152
- Retail trade, employment841
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,266
- Manufacturing, employment780
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$72,892
- Accommodation and food services, employment422
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$19,203
- Construction, employment380
- Construction, average annual pay$64,398
- Transportation and warehousing, employment374
- Arts, entertainment and recreation, employment210
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 841 | 90 | $30,266 |
| Manufacturing | 780 | 22 | $72,892 |
| Accommodation and food services | 422 | 34 | $19,203 |
| Construction | 380 | 65 | $64,398 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 374 | 30 | $65,934 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 210 | 24 | $17,959 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 145 | 56 | $59,028 |
| Other services, except public administration | 129 | 38 | $38,037 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 841 jobs, 9.9 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 industries434
- Employment at those establishments6,343
- Annual payroll$339.0 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents11.4
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, 202468
- Declared construction value permitted$5.4 m
- Single family units authorized68
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$79,608
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.3
Single-family homes are 100.0 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 recorded9
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$10.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$1,154,344
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- Largest single approval$4,750,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)127
- Jobs per approval14.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals6
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer22.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms2
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter6
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Most active lenderThe Huntington National Bank (4)
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 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 recorded2
- Paid in full2
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure6
- Status: Cancelled1
Only 2 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 lending4
- Kenova, approvals4
- Lavalette, approvals2
- Huntington, approvals2
- Hurricane, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Kenova | 4 | $2,388,500 |
| Lavalette | 2 | $5,000,000 |
| Huntington | 2 | $2,290,600 |
| Hurricane | 1 | $710,000 |
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 area506 sq mi
- Rank by land area among West Virginia counties15th of 55
- Width, east to west24 mi
- Height, north to south39.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land75
- Establishments per square mile0.86
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 540200
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP6
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Wayne County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Wayne County (community 540200), 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 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 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 2020-202438,164
- Households15,762
- Average household size2.42
- Median household income$58,878
- Median age44.8
Common questions
Wayne County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Wayne County, West Virginia?
The Census Bureau estimates 37,589 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 38,164, in 15,762 households, ranking 14th of 55 West Virginia counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Wayne County's population growing?
The population has fallen 3.57 percent since the 2020 census base of 38,980, to 37,589 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 380 births against 565 deaths, with net migration of -5. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Wayne County?
$58,878. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $127,100, which is 2.2 times income, and median gross rent is $915 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Wayne County?
434 establishments, employing 6,343 people with an annual payroll of $339.0 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?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 841 jobs, 9.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,494 jobs at an average annual pay of $59,886, or $1,152 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?
9 7(a) approvals totaling $10.4 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Wayne County?
68 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $5.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Wayne County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 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 Cabell County, with 269 households. Arriving households report an average income of $41,494 against $41,443 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.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Wayne County. All 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington | city | 45,787 | 2 | 7.2 percent here, 92.8 percent Cabell County |
| Kenova | city | 2,944 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Wayne | town | 1,675 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ceredo | city | 1,528 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lavalette | CDP | 1,005 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Gay | town | 437 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Prichard | CDP | 389 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crum | CDP | 187 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 9 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Wayne County, the largest being Hurricane (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.