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Waynesville, NC
Town in Haywood County, North Carolina. ZIP codes: 28786.
Population
10,502
Land area
9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,172
ZIP codes
1
Waynesville and its ZIP codes
Waynesville at a glance
- Waynesville is about 5.3 times as dense as North Carolina as a whole.
- It is the 96th most populous of 772 cities and towns in North Carolina.
- Households here earn a median of $54,923 a year, 24% less than the North Carolina figure of $72,388.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $281,700 and median rent is $1,070 a month.
Local data for Waynesville, NC
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Waynesville, NC, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,923
Poverty rate
15.9%
Median home value
$281,700
Median rent
$1,070/mo
Homeownership
57.3%
Bachelor's or higher
32.9%
Median age
46.0
Average commute
19.7 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,278), German Americans (1,170), Scottish Americans (521).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Haywood County. PPP loans are for Waynesville.
Unemployment rate
2.8%
Sep 2026, -0.7 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$49,480
17,431 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$58,464
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.8B
FY 2026, $28,431 per person
How people get to work
Waynesville, NC, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.0%
- Carpooled13.7%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.1%
- Bicycle0.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home12.4%
Average one-way commute: 19.7 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Waynesville, NC, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
564
Countywide, mostly winter weather
Flood insurance policies
695
2.0% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 24°F
50.2 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone10 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Waynesville, NC, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.8%
U.S. 33.3% +0.5 pts
Diabetes
13.6%
U.S. 12.1% +1.5 pts
Smoking
14.5%
U.S. 12.8% +1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.5%
U.S. 11.1% -0.6 pts
ZIP codes in Waynesville
1 in or overlapping Waynesville. Population shown
Cities near Waynesville
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Maggie ValleyTown | 3.6 mi | 3.5 |
| Lake JunaluskaCensus-designated place | 3.8 mi | 5.3 |
| ClydeTown | 6.4 mi | 0.9 |
| West CantonCensus-designated place | 8.9 mi | 1.3 |
| CantonTown | 10 mi | 3.7 |
| SylvaTown | 14 mi | 3.2 |
| WebsterTown | 15 mi | 1 |
| CullowheeCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 3.8 |
| DillsboroTown | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| Forest HillsVillage | 17 mi | 0.5 |
| CherokeeCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 12.1 |
| WhittierCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 0.2 |
| Bent CreekCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 2.2 |
| GlenvilleCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 1.3 |
| BrevardCity | 23 mi | 5.4 |
| EmmaCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 1.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Waynesville, NC in?
- Waynesville is in Haywood County, North Carolina.
- What ZIP codes are in Waynesville, NC?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Waynesville include 28786.
- What is the population of Waynesville, NC?
- About 10,502 people live in Waynesville, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Waynesville?
- Nearby places include Maggie Valley (3.6 mi), Lake Junaluska (3.8 mi), Clyde (6.4 mi), West Canton (8.9 mi), Canton (10 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023