Waynesville, NC Demographics

A map of Waynesville's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	9,211	8,683	87.7%	85.6%
Hispanic	697	680	6.6%	6.7%
Multiracial	427	406	4.1%	4.0%
Black	141	183	1.3%	1.8%
Asian	26	102	0.2%	1.0%
Native American/Other	0	86	0.0%	0.8%

Waynesville, North Carolina has an estimated population of 10,502, an increase from the 10,140 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 87.7% White, 6.6% Hispanic, 4.1% Multiracial, 1.3% Black, 0.2% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Waynesville, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Waynesville 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 Waynesville, that probability was 26.0% in 2020 and 22.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Waynesville is ranked the 96th 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). Waynesville was ranked the 94th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Waynesville's White Population

9,211 residents of Waynesville, or 87.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Waynesville is significantly higher than in North Carolina overall, where 60% of the population is White. Waynesville ranks 175th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waynesville's White population has grown by an estimated 6.1%. White residents' share of Waynesville's population has increased from 85.6% to 87.7%.

Waynesville is more White than neighboring Maggie Valley (86% White), and Clyde (78.7% White). Waynesville is less White than neighboring Lake Junaluska (88.5% White), West Canton (89.4% White), and Canton (88.8% White).

Waynesville's Black Population

141 residents of Waynesville, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Waynesville is significantly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 20% of the population is Black. Waynesville ranks 632nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waynesville's Black population has declined by an estimated 23.0%. Black residents' share of Waynesville's population has decreased from 1.8% to 1.3%.

Waynesville is more Black than neighboring Lake Junaluska (0% Black), and Maggie Valley (0.8% Black). Waynesville is less Black than neighboring Clyde (1.4% Black), West Canton (4.8% Black), and Canton (1.7% Black).

Waynesville's Asian Population

26 residents of Waynesville, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Waynesville is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 3.3% of the population is Asian. Waynesville ranks 267th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waynesville's Asian population has declined by an estimated 74.5%. Asian residents' share of Waynesville's population has decreased from 1.0% to 0.2%.

Waynesville is more Asian than neighboring Clyde (0% Asian), and West Canton (0% Asian). Waynesville is less Asian than neighboring Lake Junaluska (1.4% Asian), Maggie Valley (1.9% Asian), and Canton (0.6% Asian).

Waynesville's Hispanic Population

697 residents of Waynesville, or 6.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Waynesville is slightly lower than in North Carolina overall, where 11.3% of the population is Hispanic. Waynesville ranks 349th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waynesville's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Hispanic residents' share of Waynesville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.6%.

Waynesville is more Hispanic than neighboring Lake Junaluska (5.5% Hispanic), West Canton (3.8% Hispanic), and Canton (5.1% Hispanic). Waynesville is less Hispanic than neighboring Maggie Valley (8.3% Hispanic), and Clyde (14.6% Hispanic).

Waynesville's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Waynesville, 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 Waynesville is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 1.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Waynesville ranks 321st statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waynesville's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Waynesville's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.0%.

Waynesville is less Native American/Other than neighboring Lake Junaluska (3.7% Native American/Other), Maggie Valley (0.9% Native American/Other), Clyde (1.1% Native American/Other), West Canton (0.4% Native American/Other), and Canton (0.4% Native American/Other).

Waynesville's Multiracial Population

427 residents of Waynesville, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Waynesville is comparable to the share in North Carolina overall, where 4.1% of the population is Multiracial. Waynesville ranks 325th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 776 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Waynesville's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 5.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Waynesville's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.1%.

Waynesville is more Multiracial than neighboring Lake Junaluska (0.9% Multiracial), Maggie Valley (2% Multiracial), West Canton (1.5% Multiracial), and Canton (3.4% Multiracial). Waynesville is less Multiracial than neighboring Clyde (4.3% 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.