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Wayne County, NC
12 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Wayne County, North Carolina.
Population
118,652
Land area
554sq mi
People per sq mi
214
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Wayne County
Wayne County at a glance
- Households here earn a median of $59,733 a year, 17% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $178,700 (38% below North Carolina) and median rent is $965 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Goldsboro (34,383), Mount Olive (4,453) and Elroy (3,251).
Local data for Wayne County, NC
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes4
- Schools44
- Colleges3
- Libraries3
- Banks22
- Post Offices8
- Parks23
- Grocery Stores53
- Restaurants287
- Affordable Housing12
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers7
- Community Health Centers8
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment6
- Private Schools8
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Toxic Release Facilities7
- Historic Places12
Housing and community stats
Wayne County, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$59,733
Poverty rate
17.3%
Median home value
$178,700
Prices +3.3% in a year
Median rent
$965/mo
Homeownership
61.5%
Bachelor's or higher
21.7%
Median age
37.3
Average commute
22.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (9,223), Mexican Americans (8,489), German Americans (7,901).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.9%
Aug 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$50,216
41,053 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,955
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$894M
FY 2026, $7,620 per person
PPP loans
$107M
1,782 loans, 14,237 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$293K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Wayne County, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.3%
- Carpooled11.3%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked0.7%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home5.4%
Average one-way commute: 22.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Wayne County, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: winter weather
Storm events since 1996
492
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
848
1.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
91° / 35°F
52.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone12 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Wayne County, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.5%
U.S. 33.3% +6.2 pts
Diabetes
14.2%
U.S. 12.1% +2.1 pts
Smoking
16.2%
U.S. 12.8% +3.4 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
13.0%
U.S. 11.1% +1.9 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Wayne County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Wayne County, NC?
- Goldsboro is the largest city or town in Wayne County, with about 34,383 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Wayne County?
- Wayne County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 27530, 27531, 27533, 27534, 27830.
- What is the population of Wayne County, NC?
- About 118,652 people live in Wayne County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Wayne County?
- Wayne County borders Johnston County, Wilson County, Sampson County, Lenoir County, Duplin County, Greene County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023