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Buying a home in Wayne County, Kentucky

The typical owner-occupied home in Wayne County is worth about $135,700, 34% below the Kentucky median of $205,600 and 59% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $758 a year in property taxes, about 0.56% of their home's value, lower than the Kentucky rate of 0.75%. The median household earns $45,739 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (3.2 times for Kentucky). 69% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 38% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Wayne County at a glance

Wayne County Kentucky U.S.
Median home value $135,700 $205,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $758 $1,544 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.56% 0.75% 0.94%
Median household income $45,739 $63,726 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 69% 68% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 38% 56% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,100 $1,433 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.8% 18.8% 21.0%
Median rent $727 $967 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 25.2% 28.1% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1986 1982 1980
Vacant homes 20.3% 10.3% 10.1%
Population 19,602 4,534,824 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Wayne County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Wayne County home of $135,700 with 20% down costs about $850 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,076, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $36,435 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 22% of the median Wayne County household income of $45,739; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $170,000.

The median rent here is $727 a month, so owning the median home costs about $123 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$27,140
Loan amount$108,560
Principal and interest$730
Property taxes (0.56% a year)$63
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$57
PMI$0
Total per month$850

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,750
Loan amount$133,242
Principal and interest$896
Property taxes (0.56% a year)$63
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$57
FHA mortgage insurance$60
Total per month$1,076

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Questions about home buying in Wayne County

What is the median home value in Wayne County?

About $135,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Wayne County?

Homeowners pay a median $758 a year, which is about 0.56% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Wayne County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $850 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $36,435 a year.

More about Wayne County

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data