City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Lake Waccamaw, NC

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

1,666
Residents
$79,844
Median income
$294,800
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Lake Waccamaw - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lake Waccamaw places in the 61st percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

61st
percentile, household income
64th
percentile, home value
7th
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: Lake Waccamaw, NC

North Carolina's Lake Waccamaw is a small town, with 1,666 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Lake Waccamaw brings in $79,844 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.9%. Typical homes in Lake Waccamaw are valued around $294,800, and the median resident age is 50.8 years. Educational attainment runs 36.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 48.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits).

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Carolina at 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $925 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 86.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

1,666 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$79,844 /yr

Poverty 3.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Lake Waccamaw compare to other US cities?

Lake Waccamaw measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 61% higher than other cities
Home value 64% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% 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

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Lake Waccamaw's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in North Carolina, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

61stIncome percentile

61st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lake Waccamaw's home value compares nationally

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

$294,800 36th percentile more affordable than 36% 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%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Lake Waccamaw $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 - Lake Waccamaw, NC Lake Waccamaw, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lake Waccamaw, NC-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 Lake Waccamaw, NC median $79,844/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%
Lake Waccamaw, NC'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 Lake Waccamaw, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.6%

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

Population
1,666
Median Income
$79,844
Median Home Value
$294,800
Median Age
50.8
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Labor force participation
48.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.8%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,220 residents1,240 residents1,260 residents1,280 residents1,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,291 residents 1,239 residents ▼ -4.0%
Lake Waccamaw's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.0%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
12.8%

Based on 641 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina 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 North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lake Waccamaw sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
86.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Bryson City
1,676 people
Walnut Creek
1,684 people
Plain View
1,647 people
Horse Shoe
1,699 people
Cherokee
1,631 people
Hertford
1,703 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Waccamaw's 1,666 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Westport, IN
1,666 people
Bridgton, ME
1,666 people
Montour Falls, NY
1,666 people
Grand Canyon, AZ
1,667 people
Tsaile, AZ
1,667 people
McClellan Park, CA
1,665 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lake Waccamaw's $79,844 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Potter Valley, CA
$79,844 median income
Appleby, TX
$79,844 median income
Shallowater, TX
$79,848 median income
Douglas, WY
$79,839 median income
Staatsburg, NY
$79,831 median income
Cinco Bayou, FL
$79,830 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lake Waccamaw, NC 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 Lake Waccamaw, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.9% 9.2% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.1% White 75.9% Black or African American 9.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 3.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.0% Two or more races 9.6% 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 Lake Waccamaw compares to nearby North Carolina cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Lake Waccamaw (this city) 1,666 $79,844
Bryson City 1,676 $43,387
Walnut Creek 1,684 $145,417
Plain View 1,647 $75,058
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lake Waccamaw, NC?

What is the population of Lake Waccamaw, NC? +

1,666 people live in Lake Waccamaw, NC according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lake Waccamaw, NC? +

In Lake Waccamaw, the typical household earns $79,844 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lake Waccamaw? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lake Waccamaw; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Lake Waccamaw, NC? +

A typical home in Lake Waccamaw is worth $294,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 Editorial

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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.