The Town FilesWaxhaw, North Carolina
Town in Union County · population 20,534 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $549,400
- Household income
- $131,894
- Jan low / Jul high
- 32° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 36.2
Waxhaw is a town of 20,534 people in Union County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $549,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better for families than 97% of North Carolina towns, more upscale than 96% of North Carolina towns, better for young professionals than 93% of North Carolina towns.
How Waxhaw ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Waxhaw is worth $549,400, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $131,894, which is more affordable than 36% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,840 a month. 83.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waxhaw | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $549,400 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,840 | $969 |
| Median household income | $131,894 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 83.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 2010 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Waxhaw
| People | Waxhaw | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.4% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 33.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 55.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.6% | — |
| Work from home | 27.7% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.1% | 89.5% |
Weather in Waxhaw
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.0°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 51 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 58 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waxhaw since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 3.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 19 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 24, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 23, 2014.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 74,299 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,500 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Waxhaw itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Waxhaw
11 public schools with 10,811 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Ridge High | 9-12 | 2,050 | 21.6 |
| Cuthbertson High | 9-12 | 1,900 | 22.4 |
| Cuthbertson Middle | 6-8 | 1,347 | 22.5 |
| Marvin Ridge Middle | 6-8 | 1,309 | 20.8 |
| Kensington Elementary | K-5 | 975 | 17.4 |
| New Town Elementary | PK-5 | 728 | 16.2 |
| Waxhaw Elementary | PK-5 | 657 | 16.0 |
| Rea View Elementary | K-5 | 588 | 16.8 |
| Western Union Elementary | K-5 | 576 | 16.0 |
| Sandy Ridge Elementary | K-5 | 571 | 16.8 |
| South Providence | 6-12 | 110 | 6.1 |
Towns near Waxhaw
- Mineral Springs, NC3.1 mi · 3,159 people · home $389,900
- Wesley Chapel, NC5.4 mi · 8,681 people · home $535,500
- Weddington, NC5.9 mi · 13,181 people · home $824,100
- Marvin, NC6.1 mi · 6,358 people · home $906,000
- Indian Trail, NC10.4 mi · 39,997 people · home $385,000
- Monroe, NC11.0 mi · 34,562 people · home $309,100
- Lake Park, NC11.8 mi · 3,269 people · home $334,500
- Fort Mill, SC12.3 mi · 24,521 people · home $487,500
Waxhaw questions
Is Waxhaw, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waxhaw scores better for retirees than 32% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 15%. 8.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in Waxhaw?
The median owner-occupied home in Waxhaw is valued at $549,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $131,894, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,840 a month.
What is the weather like in Waxhaw?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 32.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Waxhaw get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waxhaw since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)