Is Wade, NC a Good Place to Live?
Wade is a small town of 595 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $62,500 and a 12.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.
Strengths: Wade stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wade is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wade 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: 91.4Wade's overall cost of living index is 91.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wade costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Wade, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $167,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,074 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $62,500 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageWade's violent crime rate is 431.6 per 100,000 residents — 14% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wade is served primarily by Cumberland County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Wade, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Cumberland County Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 51 | — |
| Middle Schools | 17 | — |
| High Schools | 18 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 16.8:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.3% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 92.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Wade sees average highs of 54.1°F in January and 90.9°F in July, with 47.9 inches of annual precipitation and 1.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Wade, NC |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 54.1°F |
| Average High — July | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Wade, NC | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 595 | — |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 12.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 30.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 78.7% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 15.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.3% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 15.1% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Wade
Wade, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: