The Town FilesWaycross, Georgia
City in Ware County · population 13,942 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $84,100
- Household income
- $38,301
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 38.0
Waycross is a city of 13,942 people in Ware County, Georgia. The median home is worth $84,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks hipper than 89% of Georgia towns, more walkable than 86% of Georgia towns, more vibrant than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Waycross ranks
Percentile among Georgia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Georgia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waycross is worth $84,100, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $38,301, which is more affordable than 88% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $768 a month. 46.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waycross | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,100 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $768 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $38,301 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 46.5% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waycross
| People | Waycross | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.7% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 6.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Waycross
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 36.7°F. About 50.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 103 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 41 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waycross since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on November 18, 1968 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 30, 1971.
Severe weather in Ware County since 1996
Ware County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830: Hurricane Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607: Hurricane Debby |
| September 7, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4738: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Ware County
Ware County had 14,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,107 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Waycross itself the ACS puts it at 11.6%.
Public schools in Waycross
10 public schools with 5,989 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County High School | 9-12 | 1,618 | 13.9 |
| Wacona Elementary School | PK-5 | 963 | 19.3 |
| Ware County Middle School | 6-8 | 739 | 11.9 |
| Waycross Middle School | 6-8 | 585 | 11.5 |
| Center Elementary School | K-5 | 470 | 12.7 |
| Williams Heights Elementary School | K-5 | 436 | 12.5 |
| Waresboro Elementary School | K-5 | 420 | 11.4 |
| Ruskin Elementary School | K-5 | 374 | 11.7 |
| Memorial Drive Elementary School | K-5 | 372 | 10.9 |
| Waycross Regional Youth Detention Center | 5-12 | 12 | 4.0 |
Towns near Waycross
- Blackshear, GA8.3 mi · 3,506 people · home $131,100
- Alma, GA24.0 mi · 3,433 people · home $96,400
- Nicholls, GA27.0 mi · 3,147 people · home $42,900
Waycross questions
Is Waycross, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waycross scores better for retirees than 43% of Georgia towns and quieter than 35%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.0).
How much does a house cost in Waycross?
The median owner-occupied home in Waycross is valued at $84,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,301, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $768 a month.
What is the weather like in Waycross?
July highs average 94.1°F and January lows 36.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Waycross get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waycross since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on November 18, 1968. The typical Georgia town has had 17.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)