What are the schools like in Waynesville, NC?

Waynesville is served primarily by Haywood County Schools. The district operates 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.8:1.

What is the median household income in Waynesville?

The median household income in Waynesville, NC is $44,920 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Waynesville, NC?

Waynesville has an average high temperature of 46.6°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 53.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Waynesville, NC affordable or expensive?

Waynesville's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waynesville is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $221,000 and the median rent is $1,019 per month.

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

Waynesville has a violent crime rate of 499.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2811.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waynesville, NC a Good Place to Live?

Waynesville is a small city of 10,307 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $44,920 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Waynesville stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 96.1

Waynesville's overall cost of living index is 96.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waynesville costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waynesville, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$221,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,019	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$44,920	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Waynesville's violent crime rate is 499.4 per 100,000 residents — 31% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

499.4 /100k

Property Crime

2811.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Waynesville is served primarily by Haywood County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waynesville, NC	National Avg
School District	Haywood County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	8	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waynesville sees average highs of 46.6°F in January and 81.5°F in July, with 53.9 inches of annual precipitation and 10.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waynesville, NC
Average High — January	46.6°F
Average High — July	81.5°F
Annual Precipitation	53.9"
Annual Snowfall	10.9"

Demographics

Metric	Waynesville, NC	National Avg
Population	10,307	—
Median Age	47.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.4%	6.3%
Under 18	18.2%	22.2%
65 and over	26.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lake Junaluska, NC 3 mi Clyde, NC 6 mi Maggie Valley, NC 6 mi West Canton, NC 8 mi Canton, NC 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Waynesville

Waynesville, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28786

Waynesville vs Other Cities

Waynesville, NC vs Lake Junaluska, NC Waynesville, NC vs Clyde, NC Waynesville, NC vs Maggie Valley, NC Waynesville, NC vs West Canton, NC Waynesville, NC vs Canton, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waynesville, NC affordable or expensive?

Waynesville's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waynesville roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $221,000 and median rent is $1,019/month.

What is the crime rate in Waynesville, NC?

Waynesville's violent crime rate is 499.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2811.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waynesville?

Public schools in Waynesville are operated by Haywood County Schools. The district has 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 31.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waynesville, NC a good place to live?

Waynesville, NC has a population of 10,307, a median household income of $44,920, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Waynesville?

Waynesville averages 46.6°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.9 inches with about 10.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waynesville?

Waynesville, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28786.

What is the population of Waynesville?

The population of Waynesville, North Carolina is 10,307 with a median age of 47.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waynesville?

Key numbers for living in Waynesville: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $221,000, median household income $44,920, crime index 132 (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.