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City · 10,502 residents · Haywood County, North Carolina

Waynesville , North Carolina

In Waynesville, a typical home is worth $281,700 and typical rent is $1,070 a month. Compared with all of Haywood County, typical household income is 11% lower and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $281,700

    About the same as the county

    2% below North Carolina

    • Waynesville
    • Haywood
    • North Carolina

  • Typical rent

    $1,070a month

    About the same as the county

    13% below North Carolina

    • Waynesville
    • Haywood
    • North Carolina

  • Typical household income

    $54,923a year

    11% below the county

    24% below North Carolina

    • Waynesville
    • Haywood
    • North Carolina

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    18 points below the county

    9 points below North Carolina

    • Waynesville
    • Haywood
    • North Carolina

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$353,252
3.1% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,628 a month
3.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Waynesville is in Haywood County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Haywood County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Waynesville apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 57% of households in Waynesville own their home, against 75% in Haywood County.

  2. Nearby, in Cullowhee, the typical rent is $869: 19% less than in Waynesville ($1,070).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Waynesville

What homes there are in Waynesville, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Waynesville, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Haywood County, 7.

Year built

In Waynesville, half of the homes were built before 1972; in Haywood County, before 1983.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 84% of owner-occupied homes in Waynesville are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Haywood County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,660 a month

Haywood County: $1,447 a month

Without a mortgage

$518 a month

Haywood County: $480 a month

Owners with a mortgage

42%

Haywood County: 50%

In Waynesville, 42% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,660 a month, against $1,447 in Haywood County. Without one it drops to $518.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Waynesville rose 74%; in Haywood County, it rose 55%.

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Waynesville rose 31%, less than in Haywood County (36%).

The typical household income in Waynesville rose 28%: less than home values (+74%) and rent (+31%).

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWaynesvilleHaywood CountyNorth CarolinaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate7.1%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.032.292.442.53
Drive alone 70%78%72%69%
Carpool 14%9%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Work from home 12%9%16%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

On average, a household in Waynesville has 2.03 people, fewer than in Haywood County (2.29).

Carpooling is common in Waynesville: 14% of workers get to work that way, against 9% in Haywood County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Waynesville?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Waynesville, worth $281,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 49% of the typical household income in Waynesville, which is $54,923 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $96,812 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Haywood County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Waynesville. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $9,860 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,259

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$276,597
Total interest
$397,958
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,757 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,282 a month

  • Tight

    $1,282 to $1,648 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,648 a month

    Your payment · 49%

Compared with the typical household income in Waynesville ($54,923 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,259
Principal & interest$1,874
Property tax$143
Home insurance$117
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$125

You need at least $9,860 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Waynesville and Haywood County

Waynesville is in Haywood County, North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Waynesville's own numbers

Typical home value
$281,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,070
Typical yearly household income
$54,923
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
0.61%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Haywood County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,250
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
6.5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Haywood County.

Everything about Haywood County

Buying

Buying a home in Waynesville

A typical home in Waynesville is worth $281,700: about the same as the county and 2% below North Carolina. With the typical household income in Waynesville ($54,923 a year), a typical home costs 5.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Waynesville 5.1 years
  • Haywood 4.5 years
  • North Carolina 4.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Haywood County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Haywood County rose 110% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Haywood County.

Period County North Carolina U.S.
Last year (2025) +0.7% +2.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +60% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +110% +107% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Waynesville next to Haywood County, North Carolina and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Waynesville $281,700
  • Haywood $279,200
  • North Carolina $288,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Waynesville $1,070
  • Haywood $1,067
  • North Carolina $1,228
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Waynesville $54,923
  • Haywood $61,912
  • North Carolina $72,388
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Waynesville next to Haywood County and North Carolina
Measure Waynesville Haywood County North Carolina U.S.
Typical home value $281,700 $279,200 $288,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,070 $1,067 $1,228 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $54,923 $61,912 $72,388 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 75% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,706 $1,583 $1,896 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.61% 0.57% 0.66% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 52% 52% 49% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Haywood County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Waynesville

For a typical $281,700 home in Waynesville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Waynesville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,259a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,860
    Cash to close
    $18,311
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $125

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,207a month

    Down payment
    $14,085
    Cash to close
    $22,536
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $134

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,787a month

    Down payment
    $56,340
    Cash to close
    $64,791
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,048a month

    Down payment
    $42,255
    Cash to close
    $50,706
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Waynesville and for Haywood County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Waynesville

0.61%of the home’s value each year

$1,706 a year for the typical owner in Waynesville.

  • Waynesville 0.61%
  • Haywood 0.57%
  • North Carolina 0.66%

What North Carolina publishes Elderly or Disabled Homestead Exclusion (North Carolina General Assembly (statute))

Exemptions and deadlines in North Carolina

Flood risk in Haywood County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Haywood County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
6.5%
2,214
Of those, with NFIP insurance
27%
County North Carolina U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 6.5% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 27% 53% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Waynesville

Typical rent in Waynesville is $1,070 a month: about the same as the county. In Waynesville, 52% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Haywood County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,250 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.04 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Haywood County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,008 $19.38 $40,320
1 bedroom $1,113 $21.40 $44,520
2 bedrooms $1,250 $24.04 $50,000
3 bedrooms $1,489 $28.63 $59,560
4 bedrooms $2,089 $40.17 $83,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Waynesville

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Waynesville is in ZIP code 28786.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,310: $60 more than the fair market rent for Haywood County ($1,250).

  • 28786 $1,310$1,560

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Waynesville when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Waynesville

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Waynesville. These are the largest.

  • The Great Laurels of Lake Junaluska 80 Central St, Waynesville 28786 100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 36 · 2 bd: 64 · In service since 2007 · For older adults, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness
  • Waynesville HA Low Income Project 24 Solomon St, Waynesville 28786 100 homes, 99 low-income · Run by Waynesville Housing Authority · Average payment: $422 a month · Average wait: 16 months · Homes at several sites (828) 456-6377
  • Waynesville Towers 65 Church St, Waynesville 28786 62 low-income homes · For older adults (828) 452-1223
  • Brookmont Lofts 1230 N Main St, Waynesville 28786 54 low-income homes · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 22 · In service since 2021 · For families
  • Great Laurels of Junaluska 80 Candler St, Waynesville 28786 100 homes, 36 low-income · For older adults (828) 452-9747

See all 12 buildings in Haywood County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Waynesville

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Haywood County; none says it serves in Spanish.

An older man and his daughter go over papers with a professional.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Waynesville

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Waynesville or Haywood County. The ones below are statewide in North Carolina: they work in Waynesville the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in North Carolina

  • NC Home Advantage Mortgage

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA fixed-rate mortgage with down payment assistance, for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before, in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • NC 1st Home Advantage Down Payment

    Statewide in North Carolina

    A fixed amount of NCHFA down payment assistance for first-time buyers and veterans in North Carolina. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • Community Partners Loan Pool (CPLP)

    Statewide in North Carolina

    NCHFA interest-free loan with deferred payments of up to 25% of the price (maximum $50,000) for the down payment of low- and moderate-income buyers in North Carolina; you apply through a member organization. Offered by North Carolina Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Waynesville

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Waynesville, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Mountain Projects, Inc.

    2177 Asheville Rd, Waynesville · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (828) 452-1447

  • Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Wnc, Inc. - DBA - Ontrack Financial Education & Counseling

    50 S French Broad Ave, Asheville · 26 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (828) 255-5166

  • Cleveland County Community Development Corporation

    823 W Warren St, Shelby · 82 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (704) 480-7701

Every agency in Haywood County All counseling agencies in North Carolina

Help in Spanish near Waynesville

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Waynesville

HUD’s record names them for Waynesville or Haywood County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

One other authority has an office in Haywood County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Waynesville, with the typical home value.

Everything about Haywood County Housing in North Carolina

Neighboring counties

If Haywood County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Waynesville.

All guides
A mother holds her laughing daughter on a grey sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Waynesville

Short answers with the numbers for Waynesville and all of Haywood County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Waynesville?

The typical home value in Waynesville is $281,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Haywood County it is $279,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Waynesville?

Typical rent in Waynesville is $1,070 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Haywood County is $1,250.

What is the FHA loan limit in Waynesville?

Waynesville uses the FHA limit for all of Haywood County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Waynesville?

The typical homeowner in Waynesville pays $1,706 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.61% of the home’s value; in Haywood County, the rate is 0.57%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Waynesville?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Haywood County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).