What are the schools like in Watha, NC?

Watha is served primarily by Pender County Schools. The district operates 9 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.0:1.

What is the median household income in Watha?

The median household income in Watha, NC is $45,833 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 22.3%.

What is the weather like in Watha, NC?

Watha has an average high temperature of 55.7°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 55.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Watha, NC affordable or expensive?

Watha's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Watha is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $106,900 and the median rent is $667 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Watha, NC?

Watha has a violent crime rate of 176.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1095.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Watha, NC a Good Place to Live?

Watha is a small town of 230 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $45,833 and a 22.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Watha stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Watha is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Watha 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: 97.1

Watha's overall cost of living index is 97.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Watha costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Watha, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$106,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$667	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	82.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$45,833	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Watha's violent crime rate is 176.0 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

176.0 /100k

Property Crime

1095.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Watha is served primarily by Pender County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Watha, NC	National Avg
School District	Pender County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Watha sees average highs of 55.7°F in January and 88.7°F in July, with 55.8 inches of annual precipitation and 0.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Watha, NC
Average High — January	55.7°F
Average High — July	88.7°F
Annual Precipitation	55.8"
Annual Snowfall	0.8"

Demographics

Metric	Watha, NC	National Avg
Population	230	—
Median Age	33.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	22.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.1%	22.2%
65 and over	16.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wallace, NC 6 mi Burgaw, NC 7 mi Teachey, NC 9 mi St. Helena, NC 10 mi Greenevers, NC 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Watha

Watha, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28478

Watha vs Other Cities

Watha, NC vs Wallace, NC Watha, NC vs Burgaw, NC Watha, NC vs Teachey, NC Watha, NC vs St. Helena, NC Watha, NC vs Greenevers, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watha, NC affordable or expensive?

Watha's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Watha roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $106,900 and median rent is $667/month.

What is the crime rate in Watha, NC?

Watha's violent crime rate is 176.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1095.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Watha?

Public schools in Watha are operated by Pender County Schools. The district has 9 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.0:1. 10.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Watha, NC a good place to live?

Watha, NC has a population of 230, a median household income of $45,833, and an unemployment rate of 22.3%. 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 Watha?

Watha averages 55.7°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 55.8 inches with about 0.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Watha?

Watha, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28478.

What is the population of Watha?

The population of Watha, North Carolina is 230 with a median age of 33.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Watha?

Key numbers for living in Watha: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $106,900, median household income $45,833, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watha side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.