City profile · Missouri · Census ACS 2023

Waynesville, MO

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

5,422
Residents
$75,179
Median income
$204,100
Median home
$1,062
Median rent (state)

Waynesville - the verdict

Nationally, Waynesville sits in the 56th percentile for household income and the 49th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

56th
percentile, household income
44th
percentile, home value
25th
percentile, median rent
49th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Waynesville, MO

Missouri's Waynesville is a small town, with 5,422 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $75,179 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.2%. Home values in Waynesville run a median of $204,100, and the median resident age is 34.1 years. About 36.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 17 residential building permits were authorized in Waynesville (Rapid Growth), up 42% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Waynesville reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1391.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Waynesville's yearly average temperature at 56.5°F with 47.5 inches of precipitation per year and 10.2 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Missouri run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Missouri scores 90.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,062 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Missouri run around $219, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 60.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

5,422 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Missouri

Median Household Income

$75,179 /yr

Poverty 3.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

90.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Missouri average

How does Waynesville compare to other US cities?

Here's how Waynesville stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 56% higher than other cities
Home value 44% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% pricier than other cities
Safety 49% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Missouri alone, Waynesville ranks #116 of 234 Missouri cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Missouri-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Waynesville toward the top of Missouri's cities

Among the 875 Missouri cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Waynesville ranks #105 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waynesville only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#177 of 842
79th percentile in Missouri
Median Gross Rent
#324 of 875
62nd percentile in Missouri
Median Home Value
#166 of 833
80th percentile in Missouri
Poverty Rate
#685 of 875
21st percentile in Missouri
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#105 of 875
88th percentile in Missouri

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 Missouri only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

56thIncome percentile
49thSafety percentile

56th percentile nationally for median household income · 49th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Waynesville's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Waynesville's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 57 Avg. percentile National median
Waynesville's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Waynesville's home value compares nationally

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

$204,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 56% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Waynesville $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 - Waynesville, MO Waynesville, MO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waynesville, MO-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 Waynesville, MO median $75,179/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%
Waynesville, MO'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 Waynesville, MO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.1%

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

Population
5,422
Median Income
$75,179
Median Home Value
$204,100
Median Age
34.1
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Labor force participation
51.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1391.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
439.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
951.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
56.5°F
Annual Precipitation
47.5"
Annual Snowfall
10.2"

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,400 residents5,450 residents5,500 residents5,550 residents5,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,428 residents 5,558 residents ▲ +2.4%
Waynesville's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
17
housing units authorized
Single-Family
17
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 12
2020 13
2021 15
2022 17
2023 16
2024 17

Permit volume increased 42% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.8%
Carpool
7.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
8.5%

Based on 2,437 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$72
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$219
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Missouri 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 Missouri state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Waynesville sits in

Cost of Living Index
90.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,062/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Missouri

Caruthersville
5,426 people
Macon
5,457 people
St. Robert
5,327 people
Trenton
5,542 people
Weldon Spring
5,291 people
Odessa
5,589 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waynesville's 5,422 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Zephyrhills South, FL
5,422 people
Tyrone, PA
5,421 people
Chelsea, MI
5,420 people
Alvarado, TX
5,424 people
North Hills, NY
5,419 people
Ashton-Sandy Spring, MD
5,418 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waynesville's $75,179 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Julian, CA
$75,179 median income
Carthage, IL
$75,179 median income
Harmony, NC
$75,179 median income
Buckeye Lake, OH
$75,179 median income
Sidman, PA
$75,179 median income
Harvey, MI
$75,188 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waynesville, MO 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 Waynesville, MO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.7% 13.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.3% White 76.7% Black or African American 5.7% Asian 2.4% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 13.9% 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 Waynesville compares to nearby Missouri cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Waynesville (this city) 5,422 $75,179
Caruthersville 5,426 $35,903
Macon 5,457 $51,103
St. Robert 5,327 $60,219
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MO FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waynesville, MO?

What is the population of Waynesville, MO? +

5,422 people live in Waynesville, MO according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Waynesville, MO? +

In Waynesville, the typical household earns $75,179 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waynesville? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Waynesville; the closest available measure is the Missouri state average, a cost of living index of 90.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Missouri vary by metro area.

Is Waynesville, MO safe? +

Waynesville has a total crime rate of 1391.2 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Waynesville, MO? +

The median home value in Waynesville is $204,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Waynesville? +

Waynesville has an average annual temperature of 56.5°F, 47.5 inches of precipitation, and 10.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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

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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.