Waynesboro, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Waynesboro · Burke County, Georgia
Population 5,700 (est. 2026: ~5,500)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -0.98% annual growth projection

Waynesboro, Georgia

Burke County, Georgia · Population 5,799

Waynesboro sits at the center of Burke County in east-central Georgia, roughly 35 miles south of Augusta along U.S. Highway 25. It is the county seat and the only incorporated city of any size in a county that is otherwise rural farmland, pine stands, and scattered crossroads communities. The Savannah River forms Burke County's eastern border, and the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant — one of the largest nuclear facilities in the country — operates just outside town, anchoring the regional economy in ways that ripple well beyond what the population numbers alone suggest. Waynesboro has a working-class character shaped by agriculture, manufacturing, and public employment, with a median age of 30 — younger than most Georgia small cities — and a majority-Black population that reflects the county's deep historical roots in the antebellum South.

People & Demographics

Waynesboro's 5,720 residents (ACS 2022) spread across 2,027 households, with an average household size of 2.78 people. The racial makeup is predominantly Black at 3,969 residents (roughly 69%), with 1,449 white residents and 211 Hispanic or Latino residents. The Asian population stands at 14. At 30 years old, the median age reflects a notably young community — Burke County as a whole skews older. Children under 18 number 1,875, meaning roughly one in three residents is a minor, which puts significant demand on local schools and family services.

Economy & Employment

The labor force counts 2,681 residents, with 129 unemployed — an unemployment rate of about 4.8% within the civilian labor force. Median household income is $41,932, which trails the Georgia statewide median by a meaningful margin. Per capita income of $18,132 is low even by rural Georgia standards. The poverty picture is significant: 1,809 residents fall below the federal poverty line, representing roughly 32% of the population.

Vogtle's ongoing expansion has brought thousands of construction and operations workers to the area, though many commute in from Augusta or surrounding counties rather than residing in Waynesboro itself. Agriculture — poultry farming in particular — and related processing remain foundational employers across Burke County. State and local government jobs, including the school system and Burke Medical Center, provide stable public-sector employment.

Housing

Waynesboro's 2,351 total housing units include 2,027 occupied and 324 vacant — a vacancy rate of about 14%, on the higher end for a town this size. The split between renters and owners is lopsided: 1,231 renter-occupied units versus only 796 owner-occupied. Roughly 61% of occupied households rent, which is high compared to Georgia averages and reflects the income profile of the community.

Median home value is $121,900, making Waynesboro one of the more affordable housing markets in the state by purchase price. Median gross rent is $724 per month. For workers at Vogtle or Augusta-area employers who want to reduce cost of living, Waynesboro offers genuine affordability, provided the commute is manageable.

Schools

All schools serve Burke County under a single district. Enrollment figures from NCES CCD 2022:

The high school's enrollment of 1,170 reflects the fact that it draws from the entire county, not just Waynesboro proper. Total K–12 enrollment across the district exceeds 3,700 students.

Among residents 25 and older (3,064 total), 966 hold a high school diploma as their highest credential. Bachelor's degrees are held by 321 residents, master's degrees by 72, and doctorates by 74. The doctorate count is notably high relative to the bachelor's count, likely reflecting medical and scientific professionals tied to Vogtle or Burke Medical Center.

Getting Around

Waynesboro is a car-required community. Of 2,458 workers, 2,051 drove alone and 219 carpooled. Zero workers reported using public transit or walking to work, and 59 worked from home. Aggregate commute time for all workers totals 47,550 minutes, averaging roughly 19 minutes per worker — reasonable for a rural Georgia seat, though many workers make the 35-mile run to Augusta, which extends that average considerably for some households.

Healthcare

Burke Medical Center serves Waynesboro and Burke County as the local hospital. Augusta, roughly 35 miles north via U.S. 25, offers the nearest full-spectrum tertiary care, including University Hospital and Wellstar MCG Health (formerly Augusta University Medical Center). For a current list of individual physicians and other licensed providers practicing in Waynesboro, the CMS NPI Registry can be searched directly: NPI Registry — Waynesboro, GA.

Library

The Burke County Public Library serves Waynesboro and the surrounding county. Phone: (706) 554-3277. It is part of the regional library system that connects rural Burke County residents to interlibrary loan networks and digital resources.

Natural Hazards

Burke County's FEMA disaster declaration history is extensive and tells a clear story: this part of Georgia sits in the path of Atlantic weather systems, and it gets hit regularly.

Hurricane and tropical storm declarations include Hurricane Irma (2017), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Idalia (2023), Tropical Storm Debby (2024), and Hurricane Helene (2024) — the last of which produced two separate federal declarations within days of each other in late September 2024. Helene caused catastrophic flooding across a wide swath of Georgia and the Southeast. A severe winter storm struck in early 2014 (two declarations), and another severe winter storm declaration was issued in January 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic produced declarations in March 2020.

Residents should maintain hurricane preparedness plans from June through November, and the area's low elevation and proximity to the Savannah River system make flooding a serious secondary risk with any major storm.

Government & Municipal Code

Waynesboro's municipal code is published through Municode and is publicly accessible at library.municode.com/ga/waynesboro. The city does not maintain a separate local building code in the Municode system — state building codes and county-level regulations govern construction standards.

Weather

The National Weather Service forecast for Waynesboro is available at forecast.weather.gov. Active weather alerts for the area can be found at alerts.weather.gov. The nearest official weather observation station is Waynesboro 2 S, located approximately 1.0 mile from town center.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)