Waves, NC Demographics

A map of Waves's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	153	169	100.0%	98.3%
Black	0	1	0.0%	0.6%
Asian	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Hispanic	0	1	0.0%	0.6%
Native American/Other	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Multiracial	0	1	0.0%	0.6%

Waves, North Carolina has an estimated population of 153, a large decrease from the 172 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 100.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Hispanic, 0.0% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Multiracial. This demographic dot map shows the population of Waves, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Waves has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than North Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Waves, that probability was 3.5% in 2020 and 0.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Waves is ranked the 727th most populous place in North Carolina, out of 776 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Waves was ranked the 719th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Waves's White Population

153 residents of Waves, or 100.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Waves is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Waves ranks 1st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waves's White population has declined by an estimated 9.5%. White residents' share of Waves's population has increased from 98.3% to 100.0%.

Waves is more White than neighboring Rodanthe (94.5% White), Avon (81.4% White), Wanchese (91.8% White), and Buxton (97.5% White).

Waves's Black Population

0 residents of Waves, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Waves is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Waves ranks 710th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waves's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Waves's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.0%.

Waves's Asian Population

0 residents of Waves, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Waves is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Waves ranks 627th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waves's Asian population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Asian residents' share of Waves's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Waves's Hispanic Population

0 residents of Waves, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Waves is considerably lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Waves ranks 768th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waves's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Waves's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.0%.

Waves is less Hispanic than neighboring Rodanthe (5.5% Hispanic), Avon (18.6% Hispanic), Wanchese (4.7% Hispanic), and Buxton (0.4% Hispanic).

Waves's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Waves, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Waves is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Waves ranks 721st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waves's Native American/Other population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Native American/Other residents' share of Waves's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Waves's Multiracial Population

0 residents of Waves, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Waves is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Waves ranks 763rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waves's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Waves's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.0%.

Waves is less Multiracial than neighboring Wanchese (3.6% Multiracial), and Buxton (2.1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.