Waves, North Carolina Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Waves, North Carolina had a total population of 153, the 727th largest community in North Carolina. The poverty rate is 0.0%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 0.0% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
Waves Quick Facts
How Waves 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 | 147 | 153 | +4.1% |
How Waves Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
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: 58 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Waves Rankings in North Carolina
Explore North Carolina Rankings
Other Cities in Dare County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kill Devil Hills | 7,761 | $89,773 | 9.2% | $442,200 |
| Kitty Hawk | 3,724 | $94,450 | 4.7% | $535,000 |
| Nags Head | 3,160 | $91,264 | 2.4% | $490,800 |
| Southern Shores | 3,139 | $131,429 | 0.6% | $712,300 |
| Manteo | 2,020 | $83,777 | 19.2% | $444,400 |
| Wanchese | 1,956 | $88,750 | 6.3% | $311,800 |
| Buxton | 1,267 | N/A | 6.7% | $409,900 |
| Manns Harbor | 926 | $51,800 | 25.1% | $253,000 |
| Rodanthe | 781 | N/A | 2.3% | N/A |
| Duck | 669 | $136,250 | 10.8% | $767,500 |
Cities Similar to Waves
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatteras | 152 | $57,188 | N/A | 51.2% | 4.7% |
| Lasker | 152 | $84,792 | $112,500 | 8.2% | 3.3% |
| Askewville | 155 | $41,667 | $123,400 | 3.6% | 15.5% |
| Aquadale | 156 | $69,063 | $156,300 | 9.2% | 0.0% |
| Severn | 158 | $62,500 | $120,500 | 7.3% | 8.9% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 153, Waves'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
Waves is a small community located in North Carolina, within Dare County. The total population is 153. It ranks as the 727th most populous out of 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina.
Age Demographics
The median age in Waves is 63.4 years. This is 62% higher than the state median of 39.1 years. 20.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.
Economy, Income & Housing
The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Waves. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% higher than the state average of 66.6%.
Race & Ethnicity
Every resident counted in Waves was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.
Education
0.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 63.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Waves, North Carolina 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 North Carolina state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 772 Census-designated places in North Carolina. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all North Carolina city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Waves, North Carolina?
Waves, North Carolina has a population of 153 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Waves, NC?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Waves — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Waves, NC?
The ACS sample for Waves recorded no residents below the federal poverty line. Because the community is small, this indicates that the survey did not capture poverty here rather than that no poverty exists — the estimate carries a wide margin of error.
What is the racial makeup of Waves, North Carolina?
Waves's population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Waves, NC?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Waves — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Waves, North Carolina?
0.0% of adults (25+) in Waves hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.