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CITY · 2020 ACS

Waynesville

North Carolina · 10,140 residents · 8.935 sq mi
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The short version

Waynesville has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,911. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $167,600. With a median age of 49.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.8. Households here earn about 28% less than the North Carolina median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 38.8
Average education
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 31%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
10,140
+10%since 2000
from 9,232 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
49.1
+12%since 2000
from 44.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
6K8K9K10K11K1990201020202024Waynesville
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54.5%(453)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.5%(453)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 144.7%(472)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 194.3%(439)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.7%(481)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3412.5%(1,269)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4410.7%(1,085)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.9%(1,104)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.2%(1,441)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7414.6%(1,478)
US avg: 10%
75 to 8410.5%(1,066)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over3.9%(399)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,911
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,296 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$27,788
+56%since 2000
from $17,821 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
25.2%
+6.1 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.4%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade7.3%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance1.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.4%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$167,600
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $85,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$794
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $432 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
57.9%
−7.5 ptssince 2000
from 65.4% in 2000
42.1% rent
Afford Score
4.1
+3%since 2009
from 4.0 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waynesville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(8,611)
Black3.3%(306)
Hispanic / Latino2%(186)
Asian0.2%(15)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic85.6%(8,683)
Black1.8%(183)
Hispanic / Latino6.7%(680)
Asian1%(102)
Other3.4%(349)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.2%(227)
Colombian0.6%(56)
Cuban0.4%(36)
Venezuelan0.2%(22)
Dominican0.2%(21)
Asian origin
Asian Indian0.5%(48)
Thai0.1%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German16.1%(1,636)
Irish13.5%(1,369)
American13.2%(1,338)
English9.4%(954)
French3.6%(364)
Italian3.5%(358)
Scottish2.9%(290)
Polish1.8%(184)
Dutch1.7%(177)
Hungarian1.7%(175)
Russian0.9%(95)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish0.7%(74)
British0.6%(63)
Welsh0.4%(45)
Belgian0.3%(30)
Greek0.3%(30)
Norwegian0.2%(18)
Swiss0.2%(18)
Brazilian0.1%(10)
Canadian0.1%(10)
Austrian0.1%(9)
Lithuanian0.1%(9)
Finnish0.1%(8)
Iranian0%(5)
Arab0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Scotch-Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.0%
+10.8 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
82.1%
+9.3 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
11.9%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.0 min
+46%since 2000
from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
72.3%
−15.0 ptssince 2009
from 87.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
8.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
2.3%
−7.0 ptssince 2011
from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.4%
+3.5 ptssince 2011
from 52.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
35.6%
−25.8 ptssince 2009
from 61.4% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 46.3% in 2009
Female
50.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 53.7% in 2009
Foreign born
3.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
13.3%
−66.1 ptssince 2013
from 79.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.5%(1,459)
Married46.5%(2,024)
Widowed6.8%(295)
Divorced13.2%(577)
Women 15+
Never married25.5%(1,219)
Married42.1%(2,010)
Widowed14.4%(690)
Divorced18%(859)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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WAYNESVILLE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Waynesville, North Carolina?

Waynesville, North Carolina has about 10,140 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waynesville, North Carolina?

The typical household in Waynesville, North Carolina earns about $40,911 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waynesville, North Carolina expensive?

In Waynesville, North Carolina, the median home is worth about $167,600, and the typical rent is about $794 a month.

How educated are people in Waynesville, North Carolina?

About 28.0% of adults age 25 and over in Waynesville, North Carolina hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waynesville, North Carolina?

About 20.4% of people in Waynesville, North Carolina live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waynesville, North Carolina grown since 1990?

Yes, Waynesville, North Carolina has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,321 residents, a change of about 49 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 →