Wayne County families made more money last year than during 2023, but the gap between their earnings and those of other families across Indiana and the United States continued increasing.
Data included in the County Indicator Report for 2024, compiled by the Wayne County Foundation and Forward Wayne County, shows Wayne County’s median household income rose $2,387 to $50,569 last year. The 4.7% increase, however, was dwarfed by state and national increases that both reached double figures, 10.7% in Indiana and 13.9% across the nation.
“These metrics show that while we are gaining in wages, it is not at the rate as the rest of the state nor the nation,” said Acacia St. John, program director for Forward Wayne County, in a news release. “Like many communities across Indiana, we are seeing an increase in the number of ‘working poor.’ It is an opportunity for our employers to balance wage increases with revenue growth. It’s also an opportunity for our residents to consider additional credentialing or education to be able to apply for jobs with higher wages.”
The county added 699 households, according to the data, although the population dipped slightly to 66,127 residents. Those households earn 80.7% of typical Hoosier households and 71.5% of typical American households. The county’s per capita personal income of $52,493 is 85.7% of the state’s $61,243 figure and 75.2% of the nation’s $69.810.
More county households struggled to make ends meet during 2024. The county’s percentage of ALICE households — those working but earning less than the basic cost of living — increased from 27% to 30%, while the percentage of the county’s population living in poverty increased from 18% to 19%. The unemployment rate rose to 4.5% from 3.1% in 2023.
In 2024, 14.2% of Wayne County residents received food stamps or SNAP benefits, the third highest among Indiana’s 92 counties and higher than the 13.3% from 2023. Additionally, 13% of county residents experienced food insecurity.
Among health-related positives, the percentage of county residents with health insurance rose to 91% from 90% the previous year, and 72% of adults reported they were physically active compared to 71% in 2023. Those reporting access to exercise opportunities was 77%, up from 70%.
Life expectancy among Wayne County residents dropped to 72.6 years from 72.9 years. It’s now a full three years less than other Hoosiers and nearly seven years less than the average American.
Forward Wayne County and its partners work to address economic, social and health issues facing Wayne County, developing strategies to meet established goals.
Access the full report at wwn.to/indicators24.
A version of this article appeared in the June 25 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.