City profile · Tennessee · Census ACS 2023

Waverly, TN

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

4,278
Residents
$45,600
Median income
$164,700
Median home
$955
Median rent (state)

Waverly - the verdict

Waverly ranks in the 13th percentile for household income and the 83rd percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

13th
percentile, household income
32nd
percentile, home value
11th
percentile, median rent
83rd
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: Waverly, TN

Waverly is a small town in Tennessee, home to 4,278 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Waverly households earn a median of $45,600 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Typical homes in Waverly are valued around $164,700, and the median resident age is 46.1 years. About 20.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 44.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 22 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 1000% from five years earlier. Waverly reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 562.6 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). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 58.9°F.

Living costs in Tennessee run below the national norm: the state registers 91.9 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $955 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $218 across Tennessee, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 48.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

4,278 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Tennessee

Median Household Income

$45,600 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

91.9 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Tennessee average

How does Waverly compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 13% higher than other cities
Home value 32% pricier than other cities
Median rent 11% pricier than other cities
Safety 83% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Tennessee, Waverly ranks #18 of 174 Tennessee cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Waverly'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 Tennessee, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

13thIncome percentile
83rdSafety percentile

13th percentile nationally for median household income · 83rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Waverly's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Waverly'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 58 Avg. percentile National median
Waverly'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 Waverly's home value compares nationally

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

$164,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 68% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Waverly $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 - Waverly, TN Waverly, TN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Waverly, TN-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 Waverly, TN median $45,600/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%
Waverly, TN'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 Waverly, TN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.8%

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

Population
4,278
Median Income
$45,600
Median Home Value
$164,700
Median Age
46.1
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
44.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
562.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
187.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
375.1
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
58.9°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,100 residents4,200 residents4,300 residents4,400 residents4,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 4,302 residents 4,430 residents ▲ +3.0%
Waverly's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
22
housing units authorized
Single-Family
22
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 5
2021 9
2022 32
2023 20
2024 22

Permit volume increased 1000% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
74.9%
Carpool
17.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.5%
Work from Home
2.5%

Based on 1,663 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$58
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$218
estimated/month

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

Cost of Living Index
91.9
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$955/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
48.3 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Tennessee

Harrogate
4,355 people
Louisville
4,369 people
Trenton
4,175 people
Shackle Island
4,164 people
Apison
4,397 people
Huntingdon
4,413 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Waverly's 4,278 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Orangeburg, NY
4,279 people
Slatington, PA
4,277 people
Forest City, IA
4,280 people
Bethel, WA
4,276 people
Mauston, WI
4,280 people
Verona, VA
4,274 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Waverly's $45,600 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Reading, PA
$45,599 median income
Conley, GA
$45,598 median income
New Paris, OH
$45,592 median income
Hopwood, PA
$45,608 median income
Pine Manor, FL
$45,610 median income
Mullen, NE
$45,610 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Waverly, TN 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 Waverly, TN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 92.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.7% White 92.6% Black or African American 2.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.0% 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 Waverly compares to nearby Tennessee cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Waverly (this city) 4,278 $45,600
Harrogate 4,355 $63,257
Louisville 4,369 $83,485
Trenton 4,175 $50,645
Census ACS 5-year FIPS TN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Waverly, TN?

What is the population of Waverly, TN? +

Waverly, TN counts 4,278 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Waverly, TN? +

Median annual household income in Waverly runs $45,600, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Waverly? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Waverly; the closest available measure is the Tennessee state average, a cost of living index of 91.9 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Tennessee vary by metro area.

Is Waverly, TN safe? +

Waverly has a total crime rate of 562.6 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 Waverly, TN? +

Waverly's median home value sits at $164,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Waverly? +

The average annual temperature in Waverly runs 58.9°F. 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 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.