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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Waynesville Micro

Waynesville, NC · 1 counties · 63,369 residents (2025 est.) · 553.56 sq mi
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The short version

Waynesville has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $61,912. Population has grown 16% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $279,200. With a median age of 47.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
62,662
+16%since 2000
from 54,033 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
113 / sq mi
+16%since 2000
from 98 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.8
+13%since 2000
from 42.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:63,369 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
45K50K55K60K64K1990201020202024Waynesville
202463K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,912
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,922 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,367
+96%since 2000
from $18,554 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
43.2%
+21.2 ptssince 2009
from 21.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
13.1%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 11.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.436
−1%since 2010
from 0.438 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade12.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.7%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical4.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$279,200
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,067
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $455 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.9%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.4% in 2000
25.1% rent
Vacancy rate
23.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 22.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 22.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 40.9% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.5
+71%since 2000
from 2.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
63
RELATED:See current rent listings in Waynesville on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic96%(51,870)
Black1.2%(674)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(763)
Asian0.2%(113)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.1%(3,838)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic90.4%(56,657)
Black0.9%(545)
Hispanic / Latino5%(3,103)
Asian0.4%(229)
Other3.4%(2,128)
Diversity Score22.3%(14,004)
Segregation Score17.3%(10,856)
Diversity Score
22
+215%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
17
−51%since 2020
from 35 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.5%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+13.6 ptssince 2000
from 77.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.5%
+5.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+56%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.3%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 82.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.2%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−5.1 ptssince 2011
from 8.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
56.0%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 57.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.1%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
37.9%
−21.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 47.9% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 52.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.7%
−37.3 ptssince 2009
from 47.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
17.3%
+1.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.4%
−71.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.4%
+16.7 ptssince 2017
from 67.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 96.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 2.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

WaynesvilleCENTRAL11,006
What's inside

1 component county

Haywood CountyCENTRAL63,369
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Waynesville

Coos Bay
Pop 63,992
Hutchinson
Pop 61,539
Calhoun
Pop 61,701
Fremont
Pop 58,655
Places similar to Waynesville
Head to head

Compare Waynesville side by side

WAYNESVILLE VS
Coos Bay
Income$62,143same
Home value$337,800+21%
Population63,992+1%
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WAYNESVILLE VS
Hutchinson
Income$60,645−2%
Home value$132,500−53%
Population61,539−3%
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WAYNESVILLE VS
Calhoun
Income$63,650+3%
Home value$222,900−20%
Population61,701−3%
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WAYNESVILLE VS
Fremont
Income$62,295+1%
Home value$160,700−42%
Population58,655−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Waynesville, NC?

Waynesville, NC has about 62,662 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Waynesville, NC?

The typical household in Waynesville, NC earns about $61,912 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Waynesville, NC expensive?

In Waynesville, NC, the median home is worth about $279,200, and the typical rent is about $1,067 a month.

How educated are people in Waynesville, NC?

About 29.5% of adults age 25 and over in Waynesville, NC hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Waynesville, NC?

About 13.1% of people in Waynesville, NC live below the federal poverty line.

Has Waynesville, NC grown since 1990?

Yes, Waynesville, NC has grown since 1990. The population has added about 15,720 residents, a change of about 33 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →