The Town FilesWaynesville, North Carolina
Town in Haywood County · population 10,140 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $281,700
- Household income
- $54,923
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 46.0
Waynesville is a town of 10,140 people in Haywood County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $281,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of North Carolina towns, hipper than 92% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 88% of North Carolina towns.
How Waynesville 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 Waynesville is worth $281,700, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $54,923, which is more affordable than 15% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,070 a month. 57.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waynesville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $281,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,070 | $969 |
| Median household income | $54,923 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 57.3% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Waynesville
| People | Waynesville | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.9% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.8% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 19.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Waynesville
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 23.5°F. About 50.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.9 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 120 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Waynesville since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an F1, struck on February 18, 1976 about 4.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 18, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 28 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Haywood County since 1996
Haywood County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| September 8, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred |
Jobs and pay in Haywood County
Haywood County had 17,496 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,227 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Waynesville itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Waynesville
8 public schools with 3,824 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscola High | 9-12 | 908 | 16.2 |
| Waynesville Middle | 6-8 | 708 | 15.7 |
| Shining Rock Classical Academy (charter) | K-11 | 630 | 12.1 |
| Hazelwood Elementary | PK-5 | 495 | 15.5 |
| Junaluska Elementary | K-5 | 421 | 16.2 |
| Jonathan Valley Elementary | PK-5 | 345 | 14.4 |
| Bethel Middle | 6-8 | 249 | 14.6 |
| Central Haywood High | 9-12 | 68 | 6.2 |
Towns near Waynesville
- Lake Junaluska, NC3.4 mi · 3,219 people · home $389,200
- Maggie Valley, NC4.5 mi · 1,687 people · home $320,500
- Clyde, NC5.9 mi · 1,368 people · home $200,000
- West Canton, NC8.4 mi · 1,265 people · home $197,000
- Canton, NC9.7 mi · 4,422 people · home $246,700
- Sylva, NC14.5 mi · 2,578 people · home $201,200
- Cullowhee, NC15.9 mi · 7,682 people · home $382,300
- Cherokee, NC17.0 mi · 2,195 people · home $189,900
Waynesville questions
Is Waynesville, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waynesville scores better for retirees than 77% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 54%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.0).
How much does a house cost in Waynesville?
The median owner-occupied home in Waynesville is valued at $281,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,923, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,070 a month.
What is the weather like in Waynesville?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 23.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.2 inches of precipitation a year and 10.9 inches of snow.
Does Waynesville get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Waynesville since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on February 18, 1976. 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)