Median Income
$62,188
household / year
Median Home Value
$120,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$519
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100

Is South Wayne, WI a Good Place to Live?

South Wayne is a small town of 422 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $62,188 and a 6.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: South Wayne stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether South Wayne is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All South 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: 86.8

South Wayne's overall cost of living index is 86.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Wayne costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric South Wayne, WI National Avg
Median Home Value $120,600 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $519 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 77.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $62,188 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

South Wayne's violent crime rate is 108.0 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
108.0 /100k
Property Crime
348.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

South Wayne is served primarily by Black Hawk School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric South Wayne, WI National Avg
School District Black Hawk School District
Elementary Schools 1
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 1
Student/Teacher Ratio 10.3:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 88.0% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

South Wayne sees average highs of 26.7°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 37.9 inches of annual precipitation and 39.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricSouth Wayne, WI
Average High — January26.7°F
Average High — July82.5°F
Annual Precipitation37.9"
Annual Snowfall39.2"

Demographics

MetricSouth Wayne, WINational Avg
Population422
Median Age42.838.9
Unemployment Rate6.0%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.1%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino4.3%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1820.1%22.2%
65 and over18.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Wayne vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

South Wayne's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes South Wayne roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $120,600 and median rent is $519/month.
South Wayne's violent crime rate is 108.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 348.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in South Wayne are operated by Black Hawk School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.3:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
South Wayne, WI has a population of 422, a median household income of $62,188, and an unemployment rate of 6.0%. 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.
South Wayne averages 26.7°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.9 inches with about 39.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of South Wayne, Wisconsin is 422 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in South Wayne: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $120,600, median household income $62,188, crime index 24 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare South Wayne side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.