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The ACS estimates about 10,000, give or take 819 civilian veterans in Wayne County.
By ACS estimates, Wayne County has the 18th largest veteran population among North Carolina's 100 counties and equivalents.
Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
Measure
Wayne County
North Carolina
United States
Share with a service-connected rating
46 percent
above the North Carolina share; above the national share.
34 percent
30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher
26 percent
above the North Carolina share; above the national share.
18 percent
13 percent
Wayne County has about 1,600, give or take 190 veterans 75 and older, making up 16 percent of its veterans compared with 23 percent in North Carolina.
Veterans under 35 in Wayne County number about 1,150, give or take 335; their 11 percent share is above North Carolina's 10 percent.
Women veterans in Wayne County number about 1,670, give or take 320; their 17 percent share is above North Carolina's 12 percent.
Income, work and education in Wayne County
Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
Measure
Wayne County
North Carolina
United States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$52,170 ± $3,428
$52,418 ± $511
$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income
$30,721 ± $979
$38,302 ± $191
$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over
7.9% ± 2.0 points
7.3% ± 0.3 points
7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over
29.2% ± 3.0 points
30.1% ± 0.5 points
30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64
67.6% ± 6.0 points
71.6% ± 0.7 points
73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64
3.2% ± 3.0 points; small survey sample; treat as rough
Not compared
Not compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over
96.6% ± 1.4 points
95.8% ± 0.2 points
95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over
29.2% ± 4.1 points
32.2% ± 0.6 points
31.8% ± 0.2 points
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035: about 9,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 11,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA disability compensation in Wayne County
VA reports 5,808 veterans in Wayne County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating group
Recipients
0 to 20 percent
836
30 to 40 percent
541
50 to 60 percent
640
70 to 90 percent
1,840
100 percent
1,951
FY2019: 4,680 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,128.
In 2025, lenders reported 780 VA-backed home loans out of 2,636 home loans made in Wayne County (29.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Military branch is not listed in the USACE FY2024 property data.
These lists use site points within county boundaries. A site may extend into another county.
For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.
Veterans experiencing homelessness
On one night in January 2024, North Carolina Balance of State CoC counted 134 veterans experiencing homelessness (70 sheltered, 64 unsheltered).
NC-503 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.
The HUD workbook reports 157 veterans for the 2019 comparison.
This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.
If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.
Elroy (unincorporated community): about 3,251 residents
Mar-Mac (unincorporated community): about 2,877 residents
Brogden (unincorporated community): about 2,733 residents
More places (7)
Dudley (unincorporated community): about 2,305 residents
New Hope (unincorporated community): about 1,487 residents
Walnut Creek (village): about 1,422 residents
Fremont (town): about 943 residents
Pikeville (town): about 776 residents
Eureka (town): about 224 residents
Seven Springs (town): about 32 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
Qualifying North Carolina veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability receive a $45,000 homestead assessed value exemption.
North Carolina offers Class I-B scholarships to eligible children of veterans receiving compensation for a 100 percent wartime service-connected disability.
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