Most working residents leave Wayne for work: only 5% work in town. The top destinations are Dowagiac (12%), Elkhart (6%) and LaGrange (5%). Half commute less than 22 miles.

Dowagiac

12%

Elkhart, IN

LaGrange

Niles

5%Work in townlive and work in Wayne 22 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 610Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Wayne →

Health in Wayne

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 23% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Michigan

11worse than MI

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 21 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▼ 7 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 1▼ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

14.6%More older adults who have lost all their teethMI 10.2% · worse 10.2%More adults with COPDMI 8.1% · worse 8.4%More uninsured adultsMI 6.9% · worse

Care nearby

Ascension Borgess Lee HospitalDowagiac · 4.6 mi · ER · rural critical access

Cass Family Clinic DowagiacDowagiac · 6.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 49047, 49045 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wayne →

Natural hazards in Wayne

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 10% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🌪️ Tornadoes

0Does Wayne flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 7 declared for Cass County MapWayne vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Wayne →

Climate in Wayne

Full climate →

Wayne has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 87 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

35° / 20°Winter

59° / 37°Spring

81° / 59°Summer

62° / 42°Fall

How much snow does Wayne get?About 87 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 11, with the last in spring around May 4.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Wayne →

Schools in Wayne

All Wayne schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Wayne’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 67% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Wayne’s schools compare in MI →

DistrictDowagiac Union School DistrictSchools1

Kincheloe Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 214 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.