What are the schools like in Waycross, GA?

Waycross is served primarily by Ware County. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

What is the median household income in Waycross?

The median household income in Waycross, GA is $36,818 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.

What is the weather like in Waycross, GA?

Waycross has an average high temperature of 63.9°F in January and 94.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 50.4 inches.

Waycross, GA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waycross, GA affordable or expensive?

Waycross's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waycross is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $78,300 and the median rent is $766 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waycross, GA?

Waycross has a violent crime rate of 1033.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5027.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waycross, GA a Good Place to Live?

Waycross is a small city of 13,856 in Georgia, with a median household income of $36,818 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Waycross stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Waycross is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waycross city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 89.5

Waycross's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waycross costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waycross, GA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$78,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$766	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,818	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Waycross's violent crime rate is 1033.4 per 100,000 residents — 172% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1033.4 /100k

Property Crime

5027.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Waycross is served primarily by Ware County. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waycross, GA	National Avg
School District	Ware County	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waycross sees average highs of 63.9°F in January and 94.1°F in July, with 50.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Waycross, GA
Average High — January	63.9°F
Average High — July	94.1°F
Annual Precipitation	50.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Waycross, GA	National Avg
Population	13,856	—
Median Age	34.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	37.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	55.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	30.2%	22.2%
65 and over	16.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sunnyside, GA 2 mi Deenwood, GA 3 mi Waresboro, GA 7 mi Blackshear, GA 8 mi Dixie Union, GA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Waycross

Waycross, GA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

31501 31503

Waycross vs Other Cities

Waycross, GA vs Sunnyside, GA Waycross, GA vs Deenwood, GA Waycross, GA vs Waresboro, GA Waycross, GA vs Blackshear, GA Waycross, GA vs Dixie Union, GA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waycross, GA affordable or expensive?

Waycross's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waycross roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $78,300 and median rent is $766/month.

What is the crime rate in Waycross, GA?

Waycross's violent crime rate is 1033.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5027.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waycross?

Public schools in Waycross are operated by Ware County. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.9:1. 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waycross, GA a good place to live?

Waycross, GA has a population of 13,856, a median household income of $36,818, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Waycross?

Waycross averages 63.9°F in January and 94.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 50.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waycross?

Waycross, GA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 31501, 31503.

What is the population of Waycross?

The population of Waycross, Georgia is 13,856 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waycross?

Key numbers for living in Waycross: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $78,300, median household income $36,818, crime index 259 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waycross side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.