The Town FilesWayne, Wisconsin
Town in Washington County · population 2,182 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $399,200
- Household income
- $130,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 47.3
Wayne is a town of 2,182 people in Washington County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $399,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for families than 99% of Wisconsin towns, easier by car than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Wayne ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wayne is worth $399,200, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $130,000, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,341 a month. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wayne | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $399,200 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,341 | $951 |
| Median household income | $130,000 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Wayne
| People | Wayne | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.0% | 89.1% |
Weather in Wayne
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.3 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wayne since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 12 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1981 about 8.2 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 72 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 10, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 11, 2025 | Flood | DR-4892: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 58,417 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,316 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Wayne itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Towns near Wayne
- Allenton, WI4.9 mi · 859 people · home $235,800
- Addison, WI5.5 mi · 3,464 people · home $269,000
- Kewaskum, WI5.7 mi · 4,309 people · home $288,800
- Barton, WI5.8 mi · 2,743 people · home $383,100
- Theresa, WI5.9 mi · 1,089 people · home $321,000
- Theresa, WI5.9 mi · 1,255 people · home $172,800
- Kewaskum, WI6.2 mi · 1,118 people · home $366,800
- Ashford, WI6.3 mi · 1,722 people · home $299,700
Wayne questions
Is Wayne, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wayne scores better for retirees than 9% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 65%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Wayne?
The median owner-occupied home in Wayne is valued at $399,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $130,000, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,341 a month.
What is the weather like in Wayne?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 40.3 inches of snow.
Does Wayne get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wayne since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1981. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)