Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 35 min6:17 am – 8:51 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 45 min7:38 am – 5:23 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
People8,311 residentsin the ZIP code areaMedian age 48.43,496 householdsMedian household income $61,769Median home value $310,300Median rent $1,105 a month83% of homes owner-occupiedMedian property tax $1,622 a yearSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Work and commuting2.3% unemployment rate54% of adults are in the labour force, 3,838 employedMain industries: education and health care 22%, retail 14%, hospitality, food and recreation 12%Average commute 23 minutes80% drive alone, 5% car-pool, 14% work from homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
Education and languages35% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher90% finished high school, 12% hold a graduate degreeLanguages at home: English only 97%, Spanish 2%1% speak English less than very wellSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024, ZIP area
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 80°F, lows 58°FColdest month January: highs 46°F, lows 23°F54 in of rain a year, on about 104 dayswettest month July6 in of snow a year, on about 3 days1 days above 90°F, 131 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Cataloochee station, 3 mi away; rain from Waterville 2
Parks and public landsCherokee National Forestnational forest · within reach · 661,139 acresGreat Smoky Mountains National Parknational park · 5.4 mi · 279,592 acresPisgah View State Parkstate park · 23.0 mi · 499 acresNantahala National Forestnational forest · 24.4 mi · 532,900 acresPisgah National Forestnational forest · 39.4 mi · 114 acresSumter National Forestnational forest · 44.0 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes25 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19702 of magnitude 4+, 0 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 4.7 on 30 Nov 197347 mi away, near Alcoa, TennesseeMost recent: magnitude 4.1 on 10 May 202548 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively LowHaywood County, NC, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsLandslide Relatively HighCold wave Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality89% of days had good air in 2025234 of 263 days measured29 moderate daysMedian index 43, worst day 87main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, Haywood County monitors, NC
Internet at home87% of households have a broadband subscription58% have cable, fibre or DSL14% rely on a mobile data plan alone12% have no internet at homeSource: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Drinking waterTown of Waynesvilleserves 19,758 people from surface water1 health-based violation since 2021latest Oct 2024: surface water treatment, treatment technique2 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation4,058 ft1,237 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalHaywood Regional Medical Center14.2 miPost officeMaggie Valley Post Office9.6 miTown hallMaggie Valley Town Hall9.7 miFire stationJonathan Creek Volunteer Fire Department8.7 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeHaywood Community College14.8 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportAsheville Regional Airport AVL37 miMajor airportMcGhee Tyson Airport TYS49 miInterstateI-406.1 miUS highwayUS 2768.2 miAmtrakGreenville, SC GRV69 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 28785 ZIP area.
