Waycross: Demographics & People
Census counts 13,756 people in Waycross, in 5,394 households. Population shrank 0.4% from 13,813 (2022) to 13,756 (2024). Median age 38.0 years. (2.4y older than Georgia). Children under 18 are 29% of the population. Population is 55% Black and 36% White (non-Hispanic). 52% of households are family-led. County is gaining 732 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 17% smoke.
- 2.6 people per household (vs Georgia avg 2.6).
- 48% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Georgia 40%).
- 86 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Georgia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.4% from 13,813 (2022) to 13,756 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~13,699 (extrapolated at -0.2%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 13,625.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 19,716 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.4% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 13,813 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 13,756 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 13,756 people (vs Georgia 37,381) |
| Population Estimate | 13,625 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 38.0y is 0.9 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 29% — above the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 38.0 years (vs Georgia 35.6y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 28.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 13,756 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 3,951 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 2,350.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 5,032.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 2,423 |
| Population under 18 | 3,951 |
| Median age | 38.0 years (vs Georgia 35.6y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 13,756 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 5,231 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 7,364 |
| Asian residents | 65 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 867 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 56.5% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | moderately diverse |
| Asian population | 0.7% (vs Georgia 2.6%) |
| Black population | 55.0% (vs Georgia 40.5%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 6.3% (vs Georgia 8.4%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 35.5% (vs Georgia 38.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 4% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 9,199 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 4,013 |
| Share born in this state | 66.9% |
| Share born in another state | 33.1% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 29.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.9% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 236 |
| From Africa | 45 |
Households & Family Composition
5,394 households. Averaging 2.6 people each — matches the U.S. average of 2.5. 52% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 2,676 families, 19% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 4,215 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 2,676 |
| Married couples with children | 520 |
| Single-parent households | 55 |
| Average household size | 2.56 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.9% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 494 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 231 |
| Family households | 2,781 households (vs Georgia 8,896) |
| Households that are families | 51.6% (vs Georgia 60.1%) |
| Total households | 5,394 households (vs Georgia 14,704) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 7.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 732 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 7.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 17,627 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 16,895 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 732 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 718 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 5.3% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 335 residents live in group quarters (2.4% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 335 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 13229 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 13 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 229 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Pierce |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 38.2% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 31.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 45.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 13229 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Pierce County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 479 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 13229 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Pierce County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 40.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 34.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 35.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 19,465 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 8.40 |
| Family Score · Schools | 10 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 8 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 28.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 13,756, stable, family-oriented, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 13,756 people (vs Georgia 37,381) |
| Town Summary · County | Pierce County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade