City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Watha, NC

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

244
Residents
$36,042
Median income
$100,000
Median home
$1,166
Median rent (state)

Watha - the verdict

Nationally, Watha sits in the 5th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

5th
percentile, household income
10th
percentile, home value
33rd
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: Watha, NC

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 244 residents in Watha, a small town within North Carolina. Watha households earn a median of $36,042 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.9%. Typical homes in Watha are valued around $100,000, and the median resident age is 34.7 years. About 10.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 38.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 3 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 50% from five years earlier.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, North Carolina scores 94.3 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,166 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Commute times here average 24.1 minutes, with 73.3% driving alone and 18.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 86.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

244 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$36,042 /yr

Poverty 14.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Watha compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 10% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% 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 Watha against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to North Carolina only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Watha toward the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 708 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Watha ranks #629 - the 11th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Watha only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#629 of 700
10th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#351 of 746
52nd percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#629 of 708
11th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#237 of 746
68th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#637 of 746
14th percentile in North Carolina

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

5thIncome percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Watha's home value compares nationally

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

$100,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 90% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Watha $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 - Watha, NC Watha, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Watha, 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 Watha, NC median $36,042/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%
Watha, 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 Watha, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 38.5%

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

Population
244
Median Income
$36,042
Median Home Value
$100,000
Median Age
34.7
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Labor force participation
38.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.2%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
160 residents180 residents200 residents220 residents240 residents 202020212022202320242025 181 residents 226 residents ▲ +24.9%
Watha's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
3
housing units authorized
Single-Family
3
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
12.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 2
2021 6
2022 4
2023 3
2024 3

Permit volume increased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
24.1 minutes
Drive Alone
73.3%
Carpool
8.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
18.7%

Based on 75 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 Watha sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,166/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

Elrod
245 people
Kelford
245 people
Valle Crucis
243 people
Hiddenite
237 people
Danbury
234 people
Halifax
257 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Watha's 244 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Canal Point, FL
244 people
Golf, FL
244 people
Oliver, GA
244 people
Wildwood, GA
244 people
Chesterfield, IL
244 people
West Point, IL
244 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Watha's $36,042 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mattawamkeag, ME
$36,042 median income
Welch, OK
$36,042 median income
Hawk Cove, TX
$36,042 median income
East Bakersfield, CA
$36,039 median income
Fulton, KY
$36,037 median income
Lakeside-Beebe Run, NJ
$36,029 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Watha, 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 Watha, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.6% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.7% White 90.6% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 7.4% 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 Watha 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
Watha (this city) 244 $36,042
Elrod 245 $25,938
Kelford 245 N/A
Valle Crucis 243 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Watha, NC?

What is the population of Watha, NC? +

Watha, NC has a population of 244 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Watha, NC? +

In Watha, the typical household earns $36,042 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Watha? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Watha; 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 Watha, NC? +

The median home value in Watha is $100,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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