Signals
Waynesville
Albemarle
Growth
67 · Top 24%
vs69 · Top 20%
Climate
70 · Top 37%
vs76 · Top 15%
Physical resilience
42 · Bottom 31%
vs48 · Bottom 39%
Housing affordability
77 · Bottom 18%
vs89 · Bottom 34%
Access
88 · Top 28%
vs78 · Top 47%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 23%
vs40 · Bottom 34%
Measured values
| Metric | Waynesville | Albemarle | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 62,662 | 64,651 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $61,912 | $60,704 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,367 | $31,661 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 113/sq mi | 164/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $279,200 | $242,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,067 | $861 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 74.9% | 74.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.5% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 15.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 472 | 322 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 5.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 0.9% | -8.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 83°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 32°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 51.2" | 37.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 40 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 30.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.8 | 40.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Waynesville
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Albemarle
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
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Waynesville
63
Your Score
—
Area Score
Albemarle
67
Your Score
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Area Score
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Full profiles: Waynesville, NC Micro Area · Albemarle, NC Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology