The Town Files

Wayne County, West Virginia

38,164 people. The median home is worth $127,100 (typical West Virginia town: $125,000) and the median household earns $58,878.

Towns in Wayne County

Towns in Wayne County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Kenova3,033$109,000$53,68342.6

People and housing

Wayne CountyTypical West Virginia town
Median home value$127,100$125,000
Median rent$915$811
Median household income$58,878$52,093
Median age44.843.6
Bachelor's degree or higher19.2%18.6%
Below the poverty line14.6%18.6%

Jobs and pay

8,494 jobs in 2024, average pay $59,886 a year.

Largest industries in Wayne CountyRetail841 jobs · $30,266Manufacturing780 jobs · $72,892Hotels & restaurants422 jobs · $19,203Construction380 jobs · $64,398Transportation & warehousing374 jobs · $65,934Arts & recreation210 jobs · $17,959
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Wayne County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 4.1%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 534 storm events in Wayne County from 1996 to 2026, with 4 deaths.

Storm events in Wayne County by type since 1996Hail61Heat12Flood49Drought22High Wind12Heavy Rain15Heavy Snow26Flash Flood55Strong Wind26Winter Weather25
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Wayne County has been included in 33 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3639: Severe Winter Storm
February 26, 2025Severe StormDR-4861: Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
May 22, 2024Severe StormDR-4783: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
May 20, 2021FloodDR-4605: Severe Storms And Flooding
May 13, 2021Severe Ice StormDR-4603: Severe Winter Storms
April 3, 2020BiologicalDR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).