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CITY

Waycross

Georgia · 13,936 residents (2025 est.) · 11.868 sq mi
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The short version

Waycross has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $38,301. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $84,100. The poverty rate of 32.7% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 50% less than the Georgia median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,756
−10%since 2000
from 15,333 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,159 / sq mi
−10%since 2000
from 1,292 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.0
+2%since 2000
from 37.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:13,936 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
13K14K15K16K17K1990201020202024Waycross
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$38,301
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $23,399 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,940
+48%since 2000
from $13,468 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
18.1%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
32.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 30.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
−4%since 2010
from 0.458 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade14.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information13.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade4.3%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services2.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$84,100
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$768
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $396 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
46.5%
−11.4 ptssince 2000
from 58.0% in 2000
53.5% rent
Vacancy rate
24.6%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.7% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
11.2%
−15.7 ptssince 2009
from 26.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
56.2%
+12.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+12%since 2000
from 2.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waycross on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic43.8%(6,716)
Black53.4%(8,184)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(210)
Asian0.6%(91)
Other0%
Diversity Score64.3%(9,865)
2024
White, non-Hispanic35.5%(4,878)
Black55%(7,571)
Hispanic / Latino6.3%(861)
Asian0.7%(95)
Other2.6%(351)
Diversity Score70.8%(9,745)
Diversity Score
71
+10%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.0%
+3.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
80.9%
+14.2 ptssince 2000
from 66.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.7 min
+46%since 2000
from 12.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.6%
−5.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
6.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
26.7%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
11.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2011
from 12.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
47.3%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 52.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 19.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
26.2%
−31.3 ptssince 2009
from 57.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
45.1%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 45.6% in 2009
Female
54.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 54.4% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.5%
−36.4 ptssince 2009
from 42.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.2%
−6.1 ptssince 2012
from 23.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
18.8%
−58.3 ptssince 2013
from 77.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
77.5%
+16.3 ptssince 2017
from 61.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2016
from 92.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 4.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Waycross to nearby cities

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WAYCROSS VS
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WAYCROSS VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Waycross, Georgia?

Waycross, Georgia has about 13,756 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waycross, Georgia?

The typical household in Waycross, Georgia earns about $38,301 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waycross, Georgia expensive?

In Waycross, Georgia, the median home is worth about $84,100, and the typical rent is about $768 a month.

How educated are people in Waycross, Georgia?

About 16.0% of adults age 25 and over in Waycross, Georgia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waycross, Georgia?

About 32.7% of people in Waycross, Georgia live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waycross, Georgia grown since 1990?

Yes, Waycross, Georgia has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 2,623 residents, a change of about -16 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Waycross, Georgia: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy