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Waynesville, North Carolina Retirement Guide
established retirement community
70
Retirement Score
Waynesville, North Carolina at a Glance
- Median Home Price
- $221,000
- State Income Tax
- State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exclusion.
- Avg January Low
- 30.1°F
- Cost of Living Index
- 94 (US avg = 100)
- Best For
- established retirement community
- RetireCityIQ Score
- 70 / 100
Retirement Data
Affordability
Cost of Living Index
94 (U.S. avg = 100)High confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Home Price
$221,000High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,019High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Taxes
Retirement Tax Score
45 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated June 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security fully exempt; limited pension exclusion.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated June 2026
Retiree Readiness (Sprint 2)
Care Access Score (proxy)
100 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score (proxy)
53 / 100High confidence
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Healthcare
Healthcare Access Score
100 / 100High confidence
CMS Hospital General Information + RetireCityIQ nearest-hospital radius model · Updated June 2026
Climate
Avg July High
83.7°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Avg January Low
30.1°FHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Annual Precipitation
37.5"High confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Sunny Days / Year
302 daysHigh confidence
Open-Meteo Historical Weather (ERA5) · Updated June 2026
Safety
Safety Score
93.1 / 100High confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026
Walkability
Walk Score (proxy)
35.1 / 100High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
0 / 100High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Demographics
Population
10,307High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Median Age
47.3High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Age 65+
26.3%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Median Household Income
$44,920High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Community Profile
Owner-Occupied Housing
58.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Veterans
10.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
31.8%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Poverty Rate
18.1%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Diversity
White
91.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Black
1.7%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Hispanic/Latino
4.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
Asian
0.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated June 2026
10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)
Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Waynesville using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.
Estimated monthly carrying cost
$479
Stress-case monthly carrying cost
$538
Median home price used: $221,000
Median rent reference: $1,019 / month
Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.