The Town FilesLake Waccamaw, North Carolina
Town in Columbus County · population 1,296 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $305,900
- Household income
- $72,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 46.1
Lake Waccamaw is a town of 1,296 people in Columbus County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $305,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns, easier by car than 78% of North Carolina towns.
How Lake Waccamaw ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lake Waccamaw is worth $305,900, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $72,500, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $928 a month. 70.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Waccamaw | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $305,900 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $928 | $969 |
| Median household income | $72,500 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 70.2% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 28.1% | — |
Who lives in Lake Waccamaw
| People | Lake Waccamaw | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 13.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Lake Waccamaw
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.9°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 62 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 59 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Waccamaw since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 6, 2009 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 25, 1986.
Severe weather in Columbus County since 1996
Columbus County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| October 14, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4568: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Columbus County
Columbus County had 14,466 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,896 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Lake Waccamaw itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Lake Waccamaw
2 public schools with 630 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Columbus Junior-Senior High | 7-12 | 560 | 14.7 |
| Thomas Academy (charter) | 6-12 | 70 | 23.3 |
Towns near Lake Waccamaw
- Bolton, NC6.3 mi · 519 people · home $146,700
- Whiteville, NC10.9 mi · 4,766 people · home $187,500
- Brunswick, NC12.1 mi · 973 people · home $82,500
- Clarkton, NC14.4 mi · 614 people · home $140,100
- Riegelwood, NC16.7 mi · 545 people · home $200,300
- Chadbourn, NC17.9 mi · 1,574 people · home $135,400
- Northwest, NC20.9 mi · 703 people · home $225,900
- Elizabethtown, NC21.6 mi · 3,296 people · home $159,200
Lake Waccamaw questions
Is Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Waccamaw scores better for retirees than 90% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 74%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Waccamaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Waccamaw is valued at $305,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,500, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $928 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Waccamaw?
July highs average 90.1°F and January lows 31.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.9 inches of snow.
Does Lake Waccamaw get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Waccamaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 6, 2009. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)