City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Waveland, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Waveland - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

431
Residents
$60,956
Median income
$96,800
Median home
$964
Median rent (state)

Waveland - the verdict

Waveland ranks in the 37th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

37th
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Waveland, IN

Indiana's Waveland is a small town, with 431 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $60,956 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.9%. Typical homes in Waveland are valued around $96,800, and the median resident age is 27.2 years. Educational attainment runs 12.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 66.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Indiana scores 93.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $964 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Indiana's average monthly utility costs around $235 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 27.6 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

431 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$60,956 /yr

Poverty 10.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Waveland compare to other US cities?

Where Waveland sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 37% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Waveland against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Waveland toward the bottom of Indiana's cities

Among the 771 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Waveland ranks #602 - the 22nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waveland only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#412 of 766
46th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#575 of 850
32nd percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#602 of 771
22nd percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#269 of 849
68th percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#512 of 850
40th percentile in Indiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

37thIncome percentile

37th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waveland's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$96,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Waveland $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Waveland, IN Waveland, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waveland, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Waveland, IN median $60,956/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Waveland, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Waveland, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
431
Median Income
$60,956
Median Home Value
$96,800
Median Age
27.2
Poverty Rate
10.9%
Labor force participation
66.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.3%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
430 residents435 residents440 residents445 residents 202020212022202320242025 433 residents 443 residents ▲ +2.3%
Waveland's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.0%
Carpool
13.1%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
1.7%

Based on 175 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Waveland sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$964/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
27.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Big Lake
430 people
New Washington
432 people
Otwell
430 people
Michiana Shores
433 people
Chain-O-Lakes
427 people
Wilkinson
427 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waveland's 431 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Prattsville, AR
431 people
Bethel, DE
431 people
Slaughter Beach, DE
431 people
Grand View, ID
431 people
Charlotte, IA
431 people
Vail, IA
431 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waveland's $60,956 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mertzon, TX
$60,956 median income
Cedar Creek, AZ
$60,962 median income
Holyrood, KS
$60,962 median income
Bradenton, FL
$60,964 median income
Stockton, KS
$60,964 median income
Lakeland, FL
$60,947 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waveland, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Waveland, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 97.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Waveland compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Waveland (this city) 431 $60,956
Big Lake 430 $120,625
New Washington 432 $84,141
Otwell 430 $47,422
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waveland, IN?

What is the population of Waveland, IN? +

Waveland, IN counts 431 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Waveland, IN? +

Median annual household income in Waveland runs $60,956, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waveland? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Waveland; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Waveland, IN? +

Waveland's median home value sits at $96,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.