Waveland, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waveland, Indiana had a total population of 475, the 519th largest town in Indiana, with a median household income of $52,292, which is 27% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
Waveland Quick Facts
How Waveland Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 431 | 475 | +10.2% |
| Median household income | $60,956 | $52,292 | -14.2% |
| Median home value | $96,800 | $108,600 | +12.2% |
How Waveland Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 41 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Waveland Rankings in Indiana
Explore Indiana Rankings
Other Cities in Montgomery County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawfordsville | 16,491 | $55,033 | 15.2% | $134,000 |
| Ladoga | 1,144 | $61,667 | 11.2% | $130,600 |
| Lake Holiday | 845 | $109,306 | 0.0% | $291,100 |
| Waynetown | 805 | $60,583 | 16.5% | $128,700 |
| Darlington | 798 | $57,656 | 12.0% | $120,500 |
| Linden | 590 | $67,981 | 10.2% | $141,800 |
| New Market | 509 | $67,969 | 1.8% | $142,300 |
| New Richmond | 433 | $80,329 | 6.9% | $89,200 |
| New Ross | 364 | $64,167 | 17.0% | $145,000 |
| Wingate | 296 | $64,375 | 13.2% | $76,000 |
Cities Similar to Waveland
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairieton | 475 | N/A | $367,700 | 0.0% | 18.1% |
| Metamora | 491 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| New Salisbury | 499 | $52,768 | $179,200 | 17.1% | 24.3% |
| Sulphur Springs | 454 | $51,250 | $139,300 | 38.5% | 9.5% |
| Owensburg | 447 | N/A | $325,000 | 10.3% | 11.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 475, Waveland's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Waveland is a small community located in Indiana, within Montgomery County. The total population is 475. It ranks as the 519th most populous out of 967 Census-designated places in Indiana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waveland is 24.9 years. This is 35% lower than the state median of 38.1 years. With 43.0% of the population under 18, Waveland has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Waveland is $52,292. This is 27% lower than the state median of $71,957. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.5%. This is 50% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.3%. The unemployment rate is 2.6%. This is 40% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $108,600. Housing costs are 50% lower than the state median of $218,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Waveland is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 70.5%.
Race & Ethnicity
Waveland has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 96.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 8.6%.
Education
11.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 61% lower than the state rate of 29.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waveland, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Waveland, Indiana?
Waveland, Indiana has a population of 475 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waveland, IN?
The median household income in Waveland is $52,292, which is 35% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waveland, IN?
The poverty rate in Waveland is 18.5%. This means approximately 88 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Waveland, Indiana?
Waveland's population is 96.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waveland, IN?
The median home value in Waveland is $108,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Waveland, Indiana?
11.4% of adults (25+) in Waveland hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 2.5% hold a graduate or professional degree.