© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Waynesville.
About
Life in Waynesville
Waynesville is a community of 10,408 people in North Carolina. The median household income is $54,923, median rent runs about $1,070 per month, and median home values are around $281,700. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Waynesville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
46.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.9%
Foreign-Born
5.8%
Broadband Internet
84.5%
of households
Population Growth
+8.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.8% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Waynesville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Waynesville, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (31.3%), and 5.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
15.8%
of residents
65 and Older
26.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
40.6%
of households
Married Couples
36.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.03
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 13% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Waynesville
In Waynesville, rent runs 13% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.2%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,706
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1972
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $353,252 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Waynesville
Unemployment in Haywood County, which includes Waynesville, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Waynesville: Haywood County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Haywood County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Waynesville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.7 min avg
How Waynesville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Waynesville, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 25 mi
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Small hub1.1M passengers boarded in 2025
- 116 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 29% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Waynesville runs 29% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
424.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,084.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Waynesville Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
77.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Haywood County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Haywood County, which includes Waynesville, the most common type is winter weather, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Cold/Wind Chill | $100,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Winter Weather | $202.1M |
| 2023 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 9 | Heavy Snow | $30,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Winter Weather | $200.2M |
| 2020 | 13 | Winter Weather | $800,000 |
| 2019 | 7 | Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
| 2018 | 13 | Winter Weather | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Haywood County, county-wide
Air Quality43 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Haywood County, which includes Waynesville, is typically good.
Median AQI
43
Haywood County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Waynesville has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
67°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
49°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
53.9"
Annual Snowfall
10.9"
Hot Days/Year
4
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
172
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 24°F | 4.62" |
| Feb | 50°F | 26°F | 4.31" |
| Mar | 57°F | 32°F | 4.45" |
| Apr | 66°F | 40°F | 4.54" |
| May | 73°F | 48°F | 4.18" |
| Jun | 79°F | 57°F | 4.18" |
| Jul | 82°F | 60°F | 4.12" |
| Aug | 81°F | 59°F | 4.25" |
| Sep | 76°F | 53°F | 4.25" |
| Oct | 67°F | 41°F | 3.00" |
| Nov | 58°F | 31°F | 3.62" |
| Dec | 50°F | 26°F | 4.71" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Waynesville
Uninsured
15.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Waynesville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Haywood Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Clyde
Harris Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.4 mi away · Sylva
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Waynesville
Waynesville's student/teacher ratio is 13.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 32.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
32.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Blue Ridge Parkway, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Waynesville
Waynesville has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Blue Ridge Parkway (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Blue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
29 mi awayGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park
30 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
34 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
71 mi awayCumberland Gap National Historical Park
National Historical Park
86 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
94 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
95 mi awayPublic Libraries in Waynesville
Haywood County Public Library
678 S Haywood St, Waynesville
Cities Near Waynesville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Waynesville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Waynesville FAQ
Is Waynesville, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Waynesville's median rent is $1,070/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $54,923/year. Median home value is $281,700.
Is Waynesville, North Carolina safe?⌄
Waynesville's violent crime rate was 425 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3084 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Waynesville, North Carolina?⌄
Haywood County, which includes Waynesville, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Waynesville, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Waynesville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,070/month and median household income is $54,923/year. The median home value is $281,700. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Waynesville, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Waynesville is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from