Small-town market profile · Georgia
Waycross, GA area market data
How the Waycross area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 57,670
- +3.0% since 2020
- Households
- 20,562
- Median household income
- $51,821
- +34.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $126,600
- Jobs located here
- 19,660
- Highest market score
- 68
- Veterinarians, #74 of 398 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Waycross area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Waycross area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Waycross area has an estimated 57,670 people and 20,562 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Waycross area from 2020 to 2025 at +3.0%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Waycross area is $51,821, 36% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 34.7%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Waycross area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (52).
Of the business types scored in the Waycross area, veterinarians (68), insurance agencies (68) and home repair companies (63) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For veterinarians, that ranks #74 of 398 scored small-town markets.
The Waycross area takes in 2 counties: Ware County and Pierce County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for convenience stores (3.3 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Waycross area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Waycross area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinarians | 68 | #74 of 398 | 6 | 2.9 | $2.5M | 90 | 4 |
| Insurance agencies | 68 | #124 of 537 | 31 | 15.1 | $1.5M | 117 | 14 |
| Home repair trades | 63 | #109 of 526 | 12 | 5.8 | $4.1M | 171 | 35 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 62 | #102 of 387 | 8 | 3.9 | $1.8M | 72 | 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 62 | #107 of 533 | 23 | 11.2 | Index only | 215 | 11 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 61 | #122 of 476 | 6 | 2.9 | $8.3M | 174 | 20 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 57 | #143 of 399 | 12 | 5.8 | $2.1M | 73 | 14 |
| Real estate | 56 | #176 of 536 | 31 | 15.1 | Index only | 201 | 23 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 54 | #154 of 378 | 5 | 2.4 | $2.1M | 104 | Under 3 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 54 | #197 of 481 | 16 | 7.8 | $1.6M | 95 | 27 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 53 | #234 of 535 | 14 | 6.8 | $748K | 113 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 52 | #217 of 454 | 10 | 4.9 | $665K | 66 | 8 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 52 | #230 of 507 | 13 | 6.3 | $4.8M | 117 | 10 |
| Grocery stores | 50 | #270 of 506 | 15 | 7.3 | $7.3M | 79 | 7 |
| Spas and skin care | 49 | #262 of 504 | 15 | 7.3 | $1M | 116 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 49 | #277 of 538 | 102 | 49.6 | $616K | 93 | 29 |
| Gas stations | 49 | #282 of 536 | 22 | 10.7 | $2.4M | 101 | 45 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 45 | #109 of 177 | 6 | 2.9 | Index only | 115 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 44 | #214 of 365 | 9 | 4.4 | $338K | 50 | 6 |
| Gyms | 43 | #331 of 506 | 9 | 4.4 | $1.2M | 89 | 8 |
| Physical therapy | 41 | #271 of 400 | 9 | 4.4 | $2.1M | 89 | 8 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 41 | #279 of 400 | 11 | 5.3 | $1.8M | 56 | 3 |
| Pet businesses | 41 | #376 of 527 | 27 | 13.1 | $544K | 62 | 10 |
| Barbershops | 39 | #257 of 377 | 9 | 4.4 | $1.7M | 90 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 38 | #284 of 387 | 7 | 3.4 | $2.3M | 74 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 37 | #397 of 538 | 187 | 90.9 | $336K | 91 | 98 |
| Car washes and detailing | 36 | #332 of 441 | 10 | 4.9 | $1.6M | 64 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 36 | #424 of 529 | 24 | 11.7 | $2.6M | 71 | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 35 | #334 of 426 | 12 | 5.8 | $1.6M | 67 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 35 | #438 of 538 | 51 | 24.8 | $299K | 69 | 7 |
| Pet stores | 33 | #179 of 220 | 8 | 3.9 | $1.8M | 41 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 33 | #420 of 526 | 18 | 8.8 | $1.1M | 109 | 19 |
| Pizza | 33 | #427 of 520 | 17 | 8.3 | $3.7M | 73 | 56 |
| Auto repair shops | 32 | #452 of 538 | 52 | 25.3 | $309K | 69 | 24 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 30 | #445 of 536 | 62 | 30.2 | $524K | 59 | 15 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 30 | #485 of 538 | 89 | 43.3 | $171K | 80 | 16 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 29 | #456 of 536 | 50 | 24.3 | $649K | 51 | 15 |
| Auto repair and car care | 29 | #459 of 538 | 90 | 43.8 | $178K | 66 | 35 |
| Nail salons | 26 | #338 of 387 | 13 | 6.3 | $1.2M | 70 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 26 | #373 of 431 | 13 | 6.3 | $1.2M | 49 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 22 | #490 of 537 | 36 | 17.5 | $1.7M | 57 | 56 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 21 | #490 of 538 | 77 | 37.4 | $1.4M | 42 | 26 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 20 | #510 of 538 | 183 | 89.0 | $105K | 69 | 103 |
| Convenience stores | 19 | #492 of 529 | 55 | 26.7 | $2M | 25 | 19 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 18 | #431 of 458 | 29 | 14.1 | $665K | 37 | 63 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.9 | $12.4M | 147 | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $8.5M | 134 | 9 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.5 | $10.8M | 87 | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.0 | $24.8M | Too few | 12 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $32.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $16.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $25.6M | Too few | 4 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | 8 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $19.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 8 |
Household spending in the Waycross area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $16.1M | $781 | 82 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $53.1M | $2,585 | 100 |
| Food away from home | $62.8M | $3,054 | 75 |
| Groceries | $109.8M | $5,341 | 85 |
| Personal care products and services | $15.2M | $741 | 74 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.7M | $323 | 56 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10.5M | $509 | 52 |
| Medical and dental services | $19.3M | $938 | 73 |
| Pets | $14.7M | $715 | 79 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $32.5M | $1,579 | 77 |
| Vehicle insurance | $45.6M | $2,216 | 113 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $49.7M | $2,417 | 80 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $25.6M | $1,247 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $269.6M | $13,110 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Waycross area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 57,670+3.0% since 2020
- Households
- 20,562
- Median age
- 38.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 1,240 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 45
- Median household income
- $51,821+34.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $70,222
- Median home value
- $126,600
- Jobs located here
- 19,660
- Daytime population
- 54,001Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Waycross area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Waycross area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Waycross area 2
- Ware County, GA35,976 people
- Pierce County, GA20,202 people
Other markets based in Georgia 12
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area6,256,377 people
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro area624,181 people
- Savannah, GA metro area418,285 people
- Columbus, GA-AL metro area325,615 people
- Macon-Bibb County, GA metro area234,943 people
- Athens-Clarke County, GA metro area220,197 people
- Gainesville, GA metro area212,705 people
- Warner Robins, GA metro area198,209 people
- Valdosta, GA metro area150,188 people
- Albany, GA metro area146,018 people
- Dalton, GA metro area144,160 people
- Brunswick-St. Simons, GA metro area115,074 people
Questions
How fast is the Waycross, GA area growing?
Population estimates put the Waycross area at 57,670 people in 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 20,562 households. Median household income rose 34.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Waycross, GA area spend?
Households in the Waycross area spend about $269.6M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $109.8M on groceries and $62.8M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Waycross area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 113, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (52).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Waycross, GA area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Waycross area are for veterinarians (68), insurance agencies (68) and home repair companies (63). The Waycross area ranks #74 of 398 scored small-town markets for veterinarians.
How does the Waycross, GA area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Waycross area is $51,821 a year, 36% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.0% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $126,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Waycross area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for convenience stores (3.3 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (63% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 45 of the 56 business types have a score in the Waycross area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Waycross area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Georgia · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the Waycross area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Waycross area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.