Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Waynesville, NC Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

10,502

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

White

87.7%9,211

Hispanic/Latino

6.6%697

Two or More

4.1%427

Black

1.3%141

Asian

0.2%26

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.8%387

High School Diploma

20.6%1,677

Some College (<1 yr)

6.2%507

Some College (1+ yr)

13.1%1,063

Associate's Degree

9.7%789

Bachelor's Degree

19%1,546

Master's Degree

9.6%781

Professional Degree

2.7%218

Doctorate

1.7%135

HS or Higher

87.3%

BA or Higher

32.9%

Graduate+

13.9%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$281,700

Median Renti

$1,070

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

57.3%2,884

Renter-Occupied

42.7%2,151

Total Units

6,057

Homeownership

57.3%

Vacancy Rate

16.9%

Home Values

Under $50K

14.7%423

$50K–$100K

3.5%102

$100K–$150K

4%115

$150K–$200K

11.9%344

$200K–$300K

21.1%608

$300K–$500K

27.3%786

$500K–$1M

13.3%384

$1M+

4.2%122

Rent Distribution

Under $500

252

$500–$750

309

$750–$1,000

364

$1,000–$1,250

385

$1,250–$1,500

292

$1,500–$2,000

352

$2,000+

113

Year Built

2020 or later

1.2%73

2010–2019

7.3%440

2000–2009

8.4%510

1990–1999

11.9%719

1980–1989

10.8%653

1970–1979

12.4%751

1960–1969

15.2%920

1950–1959

9.7%590

1940–1949

10.2%617

1939 or earlier

12.9%784

Heating Fuel

Electricity

66.9%3,366

Fuel Oil

18.4%925

Bottled/LP Gas

7.1%360

Utility Gas

5.9%298

Wood

1.2%60

Other

0.5%26

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$54,923

Mean Household Incomei

$75,703

Per Capita Incomei

$37,050

Poverty Ratei

15.5%

Unemploymenti

1.8%

Labor Forcei

5,211

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

3.3%168

$10K–$15K

7.4%374

$15K–$20K

7.7%387

$20K–$25K

9.4%473

$25K–$30K

3.7%186

$30K–$35K

2%101

$35K–$40K

5.8%291

$40K–$45K

3.9%195

$45K–$50K

3.6%180

$50K–$60K

6.8%340

$60K–$75K

7.1%358

$75K–$100K

15.3%771

$100K–$125K

8.5%429

$125K–$150K

6.4%323

$150K–$200K

4.6%234

$200K+

4.5%225

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

498

Residentsi

627

Avg. Tenant Renti

$405/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

11 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing99 homes93% occupied$398/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers272 homes75% occupied$418/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 871 homes95% occupied$378/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC36 homes99% occupied$412/mo rent

811/PRAC20 homes80% occupied$353/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $54,923/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $16K/yr

74%

Very low income$16K–$27K/yr

23.3%

Low income$27K–$44K/yr

1.9%

Moderate / aboveOver $44K/yr

0.8%

Who Receives This Housing

75.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

7.5% of subsidized households are minority

34.1% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

49.2% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

6105.8%

By Region

Top Countries

Guatemala

191

Mexico

138

United Kingdom

111

Philippines

Germany

China

Korea

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

4,779

Avg. Commutei

19.7 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

5,075

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

908(10.3% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

84.7%Insured

15.3%Uninsured