What are the schools like in Waves, NC?

Waves is served primarily by Bear Grass Charter School. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Waves?

The median household income in Waves, NC is $158,860 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 26.5%.

What is the weather like in Waves, NC?

Waves has an average high temperature of 53.9°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.1 inches.

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

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

Waves has a violent crime rate of 143.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1380.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waves, NC a Good Place to Live?

Waves is a small town of 139 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $158,860 and a 26.5% unemployment rate.

Strengths: Waves stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

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

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

Cost of Living

Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Waves metro area.

Metric	Waves, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$547,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	100.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$158,860	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waves's violent crime rate is 143.2 per 100,000 residents — 62% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

143.2 /100k

Property Crime

1380.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waves is served primarily by Bear Grass Charter School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waves, NC	National Avg
School District	Bear Grass Charter School	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	8.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	74.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waves sees average highs of 53.9°F in January and 86.7°F in July, with 54.8 inches of annual precipitation and 1.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waves, NC
Average High — January	53.9°F
Average High — July	86.7°F
Annual Precipitation	54.8"
Annual Snowfall	1.1"

Demographics

Metric	Waves, NC	National Avg
Population	139	—
Median Age	63.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	26.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	N/A	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	100.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	0.0%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Salvo, NC 1 mi Rodanthe, NC 2 mi Avon, NC 16 mi Wanchese, NC 21 mi Buxton, NC 22 mi

ZIP Codes in Waves

Waves, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

27982

Waves vs Other Cities

Waves, NC vs Salvo, NC Waves, NC vs Rodanthe, NC Waves, NC vs Avon, NC Waves, NC vs Wanchese, NC Waves, NC vs Buxton, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waves, NC affordable or expensive?

Waves has a median home value of $547,800 and median rent of N/A/month against a median household income of $158,860.

What is the crime rate in Waves, NC?

Waves's violent crime rate is 143.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1380.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waves?

Public schools in Waves are operated by Bear Grass Charter School. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 8.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waves, NC a good place to live?

Waves, NC has a population of 139, a median household income of $158,860, and an unemployment rate of 26.5%. 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 Waves?

Waves averages 53.9°F in January and 86.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.8 inches with about 1.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waves?

Waves, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 27982.

What is the population of Waves?

The population of Waves, North Carolina is 139 with a median age of 63.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waves?

Key numbers for living in Waves: median home $547,800, median household income $158,860, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waves side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.