What are the schools like in Waynesboro, MS?

Waynesboro is served primarily by Wayne County School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Waynesboro?

The median household income in Waynesboro, MS is $24,779 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.2%.

What is the weather like in Waynesboro, MS?

Waynesboro has an average high temperature of 59.2°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 60.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Waynesboro, MS affordable or expensive?

Waynesboro's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waynesboro is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $85,200 and the median rent is $709 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waynesboro, MS?

Waynesboro has a violent crime rate of 929.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1636.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waynesboro, MS a Good Place to Live?

Waynesboro is a small town of 4,576 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $24,779 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waynesboro 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: 87.2

Waynesboro's overall cost of living index is 87.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waynesboro costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waynesboro, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$85,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$709	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$24,779	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Waynesboro's violent crime rate is 929.0 per 100,000 residents — 144% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

929.0 /100k

Property Crime

1636.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waynesboro is served primarily by Wayne County School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waynesboro, MS	National Avg
School District	Wayne County School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	22.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	72.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waynesboro sees average highs of 59.2°F in January and 91.8°F in July, with 60.0 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waynesboro, MS
Average High — January	59.2°F
Average High — July	91.8°F
Annual Precipitation	60.0"
Annual Snowfall	0.6"

Demographics

Metric	Waynesboro, MS	National Avg
Population	4,576	—
Median Age	38.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	38.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	55.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.1%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clara, MS 7 mi Buckatunna, MS 10 mi Shubuta, MS 13 mi Millry, AL 18 mi Silas, AL 19 mi

ZIP Codes in Waynesboro

Waynesboro, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39367

Waynesboro vs Other Cities

Waynesboro, MS vs Clara, MS Waynesboro, MS vs Buckatunna, MS Waynesboro, MS vs Shubuta, MS Waynesboro, MS vs Millry, AL Waynesboro, MS vs Silas, AL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waynesboro, MS affordable or expensive?

Waynesboro's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waynesboro roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $85,200 and median rent is $709/month.

What is the crime rate in Waynesboro, MS?

Waynesboro's violent crime rate is 929.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1636.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waynesboro?

Public schools in Waynesboro are operated by Wayne County School District. The district has 5 elementary, several middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 22.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waynesboro, MS a good place to live?

Waynesboro, MS has a population of 4,576, a median household income of $24,779, 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.

What is the weather like in Waynesboro?

Waynesboro averages 59.2°F in January and 91.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 60.0 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waynesboro?

Waynesboro, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39367.

What is the population of Waynesboro?

The population of Waynesboro, Mississippi is 4,576 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waynesboro?

Key numbers for living in Waynesboro: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $85,200, median household income $24,779, crime index 178 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waynesboro side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.