What are the schools like in Wayne, NE?

Wayne is served primarily by WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Wayne?

The median household income in Wayne, NE is $51,399 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Wayne, NE?

Wayne has an average high temperature of 30.2°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 27.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 32.2 inches.

Wayne, NE Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Wayne, NE affordable or expensive?

Wayne's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wayne is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $169,100 and the median rent is $766 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Wayne, NE?

Wayne has a violent crime rate of 128.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 545.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wayne, NE a Good Place to Live?

Wayne is a small town of 5,973 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $51,399 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Wayne stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wayne is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wayne city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.7

Wayne's overall cost of living index is 90.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wayne costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wayne, NE	National Avg
Median Home Value	$169,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$766	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,399	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Wayne's violent crime rate is 128.4 per 100,000 residents — 66% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

128.4 /100k

Property Crime

545.6 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Wayne is served primarily by WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wayne, NE	National Avg
School District	WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wayne sees average highs of 30.2°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 27.5 inches of annual precipitation and 32.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wayne, NE
Average High — January	30.2°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	27.5"
Annual Snowfall	32.2"

Demographics

Metric	Wayne, NE	National Avg
Population	5,973	—
Median Age	23.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	15.8%	22.2%
65 and over	13.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wakefield, NE 8 mi Winside, NE 9 mi Carroll, NE 10 mi Concord, NE 10 mi Dixon, NE 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Wayne

Wayne, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code:

68787

Wayne vs Other Cities

Wayne, NE vs Wakefield, NE Wayne, NE vs Winside, NE Wayne, NE vs Carroll, NE Wayne, NE vs Concord, NE Wayne, NE vs Dixon, NE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wayne, NE affordable or expensive?

Wayne's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wayne roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $169,100 and median rent is $766/month.

What is the crime rate in Wayne, NE?

Wayne's violent crime rate is 128.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 545.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wayne?

Public schools in Wayne are operated by WAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 35.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wayne, NE a good place to live?

Wayne, NE has a population of 5,973, a median household income of $51,399, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Wayne?

Wayne averages 30.2°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 27.5 inches with about 32.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wayne?

Wayne, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68787.

What is the population of Wayne?

The population of Wayne, Nebraska is 5,973 with a median age of 23.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wayne?

Key numbers for living in Wayne: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $169,100, median household income $51,399, crime index 31 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wayne side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.