The Town FilesWaynesboro, Georgia
City in Burke County · population 5,799 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,500
- Household income
- $41,620
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 29.1
Waynesboro is a city of 5,799 people in Burke County, Georgia. The median home is worth $161,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). It ranks better transit than 80% of Georgia towns, easier by car than 74% of Georgia towns.
How Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro is worth $161,500, below the typical Georgia town ($202,650). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $41,620, which is more affordable than 34% of Georgia towns. Median rent is $746 a month. 29.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waynesboro | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,500 | $202,650 |
| Median rent | $746 | $1,000 |
| Median household income | $41,620 | $57,176 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 29.4% | 60.5% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Waynesboro
| People | Waynesboro | Typical Georgia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.1 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.0% | 15.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 19.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.0% | 16.2% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 26.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 88.0% |
Weather in Waynesboro
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 34.0°F. About 48.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Georgia town: 0.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 52 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waynesboro since 1950, compared with 17 for the typical Georgia town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 10, 2009 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 13, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Burke County since 1996
Burke County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Burke County
Burke County had 7,429 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,708 a year. Unemployment was 5.5% in 2023; in Waynesboro itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Waynesboro
4 public schools with 3,651 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burke County High School | 9-12 | 1,137 | 14.8 |
| Waynesboro Primary School | PK-2 | 943 | 13.5 |
| Burke County Middle School | 6-8 | 867 | 12.2 |
| Blakeney Elementary | 3-5 | 704 | 11.9 |
Towns near Waynesboro
- Hephzibah, GA14.7 mi · 3,830 people · home $185,700
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA19.3 mi · 202,081 people · home $178,400
- Millen, GA20.1 mi · 2,966 people · home $86,300
- Grovetown, GA27.2 mi · 15,577 people · home $254,300
- Clearwater, SC29.0 mi · 4,079 people · home $158,100
- Harlem, GA29.5 mi · 3,571 people · home $274,500
Waynesboro questions
Is Waynesboro, Georgia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waynesboro scores better for retirees than 31% of Georgia towns and quieter than 37%. 17.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.1).
How much does a house cost in Waynesboro?
The median owner-occupied home in Waynesboro is valued at $161,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,620, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $746 a month.
What is the weather like in Waynesboro?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 34.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Waynesboro get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waynesboro since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 10, 2009. 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)