Waynesville is a small town of 5,372 in Missouri, with a median household income of $47,193
and a 5.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Waynesville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Waynesville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Waynesville 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: 92.8
Waynesville's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Waynesville costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Waynesville, MO
National Avg
Median Home Value
$174,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$846
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
58.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,193
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Waynesville's violent crime rate is 439.3 per 100,000 residents
— 16% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
439.3 /100k
Property Crime
951.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Waynesville is served primarily by WAYNESVILLE R-VI.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Waynesville, MO
National Avg
School District
WAYNESVILLE R-VI
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Waynesville sees average highs of 44.1°F in January
and 89.1°F in July,
with 47.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.2 inches of snow per year.
Waynesville's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Waynesville roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $174,700 and median rent is $846/month.
Waynesville's violent crime rate is 439.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 951.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Waynesville are operated by WAYNESVILLE R-VI.
The district has 5 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Waynesville, MO has a population of 5,372, a median household income of $47,193, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%.
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.
Waynesville averages 44.1°F in January and 89.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.5 inches
with about 10.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Waynesville, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65583.
The population of Waynesville, Missouri is 5,372 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Waynesville: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $174,700, median household income $47,193, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waynesville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
