Wayne, NE: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Wayne is a city in Wayne County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2020 census, Wayne had a population of 5,973. It is the county seat of Wayne County and the home of Wayne State College.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Wayne ranks

All →

#2Best schools in NE #4Shortest commute in NE #5Most remote workers in NE All NE rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code68787

Area code402

Living in Wayne

Housing in Wayne

$247K▲ 6.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Wayne home is worth about $247,000, up 6.8% in a year, 12% below the Nebraska typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Wayne

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Wayne reports less crime per resident than 80% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Wayne 1

Nebraska 2.2

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Wayne 3.8

Nebraska 14

U.S. 15.5

Natural hazards: HighMostly inland flooding · higher than 61% of U.S. communitiesDetails →

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Wayne

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 72% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 97% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Nebraska

7better than NE·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▲ 1▼ 4 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 1▼ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.8%Fewer adults who have had cancerNE 8.3% · better 17.9%Fewer adults with arthritisNE 24% · better 18.9%More older adults who have lost all their teethNE 12.4% · worse

Care nearby

Providence Medical CenterWayne · 0.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Midtown Health Center - Wayne State CollegeWayne · 0.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Wayne · CMS · HRSAHealth in Wayne →

Schools in Wayne

All Wayne schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Wayne’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 66% of Nebraska’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#2Best public schoolsof 57 in NE

DistrictWAYNE COMMUNITY SCHOOLSSchools6

Wayne Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 499 students St. Mary Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–6 · 40 students Wayne Junior High School C+Middle · Grades 7–8 · 148 students Wayne High School A+High · Grades 9–12 · 323 students Wayne Early Learning CenterPrekindergarten · Grades PK · 46 students Tower SchoolOther · Grades PK–12

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 NE. Ratings are from neighbors.