City · Virginia
Waynesboro, Virginia
Waynesboro, city, in Waynesboro city, Virginia. Waynesboro had 23,951 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 7.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 22,196 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 22,841 (controlled total). GEOID 5183680.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,951
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 22,196 · ACS 2020-2024: 22,841
Median household income
$59,994
±$3,755 (90% margin)
Virginia: $93,170
Median home value
$245,500
±$11,339 (90% margin)
Virginia: $383,700
Median gross rent
$1,020
±$68 (90% margin)
Virginia: $1,579
Where is Waynesboro and what county is it in?
Waynesboro is a city in Waynesboro city, Virginia. It covers 15.0 square miles of land, 1,483 residents per square mile in 2020.
Waynesboro is in the Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Waynesboro covers the same area as Waynesboro city: the city and the county are one area, so the county's figures are Waynesboro's; the county page lists its census tracts.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Waynesboro, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,951 people lived in Waynesboro on July 1, 2025, up 7.9% since 2020, faster than Virginia (+2.9%). The 2020 Census counted 22,196 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 22,841.
| Measure | Waynesboro | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 22,841 | 8,705,170 | +701 |
| Households | 9,841 ±313 | 3,365,732 | +648 |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.07 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 10,510 ±38 | 3,684,756 | +487 |
Waynesboro's population since 2000
From 19,520 in 2000 to 23,951 in 2025: up 22.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Waynesboro as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Waynesboro?
The median resident of Waynesboro is 38.3 years old; 22.4% are under 18 and 17.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 71.6%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.9%. 6.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Waynesboro | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 ±0.7 | 39.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.4% ±0.1 pts | 21.7% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.9% ±0.6 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±0.9 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9.7% | 11.0% | +1.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 71.6% ±0.8 pts | 58.4% | −3.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.9% ±1.1 pts | 18.3% | −2.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±0.6 pts | 6.9% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.9% ±1.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.7% ±1.2 pts | 13.1% | +2.9 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 9.8% ±1.5 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.2% ±1.3 pts | 9.4% | – |
| With a disability | 19.8% ±2.6 pts | 12.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.3% ±2.3 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.1% ±1.9 pts | 91.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.7% ±3.3 pts | 42.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.6% ±2.4 pts | 18.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.0% ±3.0 pts | 86.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±1.3 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Waynesboro earn?
Half of Waynesboro's 9,841 households earn less than $59,994 a year (±$3,755), against $59,994 in Waynesboro city and $93,170 in Virginia. In 2015-2019 it was $55,395 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Waynesboro | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $59,994 ±$3,755 | $93,170 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $77,683 ±$5,937 | $128,260 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,636 ±$1,825 | $50,666 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.2% ±2.6 pts | 9.9% | −5.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.2% ±6.4 pts | 12.3% | −14.1 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.2% ±3.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.9% ±1.7 pts | 95.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.4% ±2.0 pts | 91.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Waynesboro?
Owners occupy 59.9% of Waynesboro's occupied homes and renters 40.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $245,500 by its owner (±$11,339). The median renter pays $1,020 a month including utilities, and 34.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Waynesboro | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $245,500 ±$11,339 | $383,700 | +$31,236 |
| Median gross rent | $1,020 ±$68 | $1,579 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.9% ±7.6 pts | 39.4% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,417 ±$62 | $2,127 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.9% ±4.0 pts | 67.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.1% ±4.0 pts | 32.7% | – |
| Housing units | 10,510 ±38 | 3,684,756 | +487 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8% ±1.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9% ±4.9 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.6% ±3.6 pts | 61.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4% ±0.6 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±1.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.9% ±2.0 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.3% ±2.7 pts | 7.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.8% ±1.7 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Waynesboro building?
Builders took permits for 353 new housing units in Waynesboro in 2025 (196 in single-family houses), 14.7 per 1,000 residents against 3.7 across Virginia.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Waynesboro work and get to work?
75.3% of Waynesboro's workers drive alone and 10.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.
| Measure | Waynesboro | Virginia | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.1% ±3.0 pts | 65.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±1.9 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 75.3% ±3.9 pts | 67.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.7% ±3.5 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Walked | 2.6% ±1.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.3% ±2.4 pts | 18.3% | +6.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.4 min ±1.5 | 27.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Waynesboro?
5 census tracts lie mostly in Waynesboro (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $41,856 (Tract 32) to $76,712 (Tract 34).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 34Waynesboro city | 6,054 | $76,712 |
| Tract 35Waynesboro city | 5,779 | $59,253 |
| Tract 32Waynesboro city | 4,996 | $41,856 |
| Tract 33Waynesboro city | 4,922 | $60,675 |
| Tract 31Waynesboro city | 1,090 | $57,083 |
Every census tract in Waynesboro: the tract table of Waynesboro city
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Waynesboro) · Census block assignment files
How does Waynesboro compare with other places in Virginia?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Waynesboro is the 1,668th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 25th-most populous of 227 in Virginia.
Waynesboro ranks 278th of 365 places in Virginia with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 25th | 227 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 13th | 139 |
| Residents per square mile | 179th | 374 |
| Median household income | 278th | 365 |
| Per capita income | 268th | 374 |
| Median home value | 251st | 359 |
| Median gross rent | 243rd | 341 |
| Poverty rate | 126th | 263 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 252nd | 359 |
| Median age | 209th | 372 |
| Owner-occupied share | 258th | 368 |
| Work from home | 228th | 286 |
| Travel time to work | 289th | 372 |
Waynesboro's figures with every place in Virginia (CSV)
Every place in Virginia, sortable · Compare Waynesboro with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Waynesboro?
8 of the 57 figures for Waynesboro on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Waynesboro are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Waynesboro.