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CITY · 2020 ACS

Waves

North Carolina · 172 residents · 0.68 sq mi
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The short version

Waves is a city of 172 people in North Carolina. At a median age of 58.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 96% of homes are owner-occupied. The population has roughly tripled since 2019, adding 116 people. 100% were living in the same home a year earlier. The foreign-born share is 0%.

At a glance
Older
median age 58.3
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Owner-heavy
96% owner-occupied
US average: 63%
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
172
+207%since 2019
from 56 in 2019
2010 – 2024
Median age
58.3
+3%since 2019
from 56.5 in 2019
US average: 38.8
Land area
0.68 sq mi
Population, 2010 – 2024
3371109147185201020202024Waves
2024153
201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 53.5%(6)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97%(12)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 141.2%(2)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 191.7%(3)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 240%(0)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.2%(21)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4413.4%(23)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 548.7%(15)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6427.9%(48)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7420.3%(35)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.1%(7)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over0%(0)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Per capita income
$74,116
Unchangedsince 2019
from $74,436 in 2019
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
38.7%
−15.5 ptssince 2019
from 54.2% in 2019
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
17.5%
−2.1 ptssince 2019
from 19.6% in 2019
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing55.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction55.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Wholesale trade0%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 10%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
Information0%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance0%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical0%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 2%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.7%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Owner-occupied
96.3%
+42.1 ptssince 2019
from 54.2% in 2019
3.7% rent
Persons per household
1.84 people
−21%since 2019
from 2.33 people in 2019
US average: 2.61
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2019
White, non-Hispanic100%(56)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)
2020
White, non-Hispanic98.3%(169)
Black0.6%(1)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(1)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Ancestry
American66.7%(38)
Irish17.5%(10)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.1%
−2.2 ptssince 2019
from 23.2% in 2019
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
100.0%
Unchangedsince 2019
from 100.0% in 2019
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2019
from 0.0% in 2019
US average: 12.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
28.9%
−8.8 ptssince 2019
from 37.8% in 2019
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
66.7%
−13.7 ptssince 2019
from 80.4% in 2019
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
100.0%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
44.4%
−2.0 ptssince 2019
from 46.4% in 2019
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
63.2%
−13.6 ptssince 2019
from 76.8% in 2019
Female
36.8%
+13.6 ptssince 2019
from 23.2% in 2019
Foreign born
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2019
from 0.0% in 2019
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2019
from 0.0% in 2019
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
67.7%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
100.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married0%(0)
Married100%(56)
Widowed0%(0)
Divorced0%(0)
Women 15+
Never married0%(0)
Married57.7%(56)
Widowed42.3%(41)
Divorced0%(0)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2019
from 0.0% in 2019
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
47.4%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
19.3%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
33.3%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
0.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
0.0%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
66.7%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
33.3%
US average: 35.2%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Drill deeper

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Pop 136
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Pop 159
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Pop 163
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Waves, North Carolina?

Waves, North Carolina has about 172 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

How educated are people in Waves, North Carolina?

About 21.1% of adults age 25 and over in Waves, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waves, North Carolina?

About 17.5% of people in Waves, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

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

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