Lake Waccamaw Depot · National Register of Historic Places
Lake Waccamaw’s story
143 years in pictures
The archive holds 1 old photo or paper.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1883Lake Waccamaw is settled
Photo: Cat person · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
1,239
2025 Census estimate · −4.3% since 2020
Typical home
$325K
−1.5% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
46.1
years
Jobs based here
473
Balanced
Is Lake Waccamaw a good place to live?
Lake Waccamaw’s best subject grades are a B+ for the outdoors and civic life; its weakest is a D− for hazard risk. Lake Waccamaw Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places. Lake Waccamaw has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Lake Waccamaw stand out
Where Lake Waccamaw beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Small town
1,239 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Lake Waccamaw grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Lake Waccamaw is from typical.
Hazard riskhurricanes tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →Jobs & income$73K median household income; 473 jobs based hereCOpen →SchoolsC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 4.6% of households have no car; 2.8% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →HealthColumbus Regional Healthcare System 10.6 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 4% conserved landB+Open →History1 place on the National Register; 1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life11.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Lake Waccamaw: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lake Waccamaw, and how to reach them.
PowerFour County Elec Member15.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Lake Waccamaw water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWednesdayTrash dayTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereColumbus County Board of ElectionsColumbus County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019
ZIP code2845028450 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Lake Waccamaw.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Very high risk in Lake Waccamaw, with hurricanes at the top
Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 92% of U.S. communities. Since 1983, 113 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Lake Waccamaw. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 54% come from hurricanes and 22% from inland flooding. Federal aid has come to Lake Waccamaw households in 7 declared disasters; the latest was in 2018.
92risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HurricanesInland floodingStrong wind
113
paid flood claims since 1983
7
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC+
Lake Waccamaw’s public schools trail 62% of North Carolina districts
Its one school is below.
38%of NC districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas AcademyLargest public high schoolGrades 6–12 | Grades 6–12 | 62 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
Lake Waccamaw is older than the North Carolina average
Among adults 25 and older, 32% have a four-year degree or more, against 36% across North Carolina. People 65 and older are 28% of residents (17% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 32% of residents (38% statewide). Lake Waccamaw’s midpoint age is 46.1 years. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Lake Waccamaw at 1,239 residents, down 4.3% since 2020.
46.1median age · NC 39.1
| Lake Waccamaw | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 28% | 18% | 18% |
| Median age | 46.1 years | 40.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 29% | 29% |
Lake WaccamawNorth CarolinaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school34%
Some college17%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
About 90 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±2.5 points). Across North Carolina, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Lake Waccamaw | NC | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.2% | 11.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 14.5% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.8% | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.2% | 13.4% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.9% | 12.8% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.1% | 12.6% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.2% | 12.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.3% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 15.8% | 6.9% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.5% | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 33.8% | 24.8% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.6% | 19.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.8% | 10.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.7% | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.6% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,200, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Lake Waccamaw: mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons reach 90°, January nights drop to 34° and about 1 inches of snow falls in a winter.
1″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–58°
Spring50–75°
Summer69–89°
Fall53–75°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Mar 29
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
Lake Waccamaw has 0.8 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
The typical journey to work for Lake Waccamaw comes to 30 minutes. Most working residents leave Lake Waccamaw for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Whiteville (13%), Wilmington (10%) and Raleigh (5%). The median commute is under 34 miles.
7%work in town
| Lake Waccamaw | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 13% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Lake Waccamaw7%
Whiteville13%
Wilmington10%
Raleigh5%
Fayetteville3%
34 mi
median commute distance
473
jobs based in Lake Waccamaw
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 56% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsB+
Protected land: 4.3% of Lake Waccamaw
Across 3 parks and preserves: 0.5 miles of trail. The biggest park or preserve is Lake Waccamaw State Park, at 29 acres. For Lake Waccamaw, the trail density is 0.2 miles per square mile.
4.3%conserved
| Lake Waccamaw | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 4.3% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
4.3%
conserved · 77 of 1,789 acres
0.5 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Lake Waccamaw State Park | — | 29 |
| 2. Wannanish Game Land | — | 8 |
| 3. Wrc Lake Waccamaw Access Area | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
On CDC estimates, Lake Waccamaw is less healthy than 53% of U.S. towns
21% of Lake Waccamaw adults say their health is fair or poor. Of 32 CDC measures, Lake Waccamaw beats the North Carolina average on 7 and trails it on 8. Among adults in the town, 12% binge drink, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 15% and U.S. towns at 16%.
47%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Lake Waccamaw | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 38% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 15% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 83% | 80% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 13% | 12% |
32 measures vs. North Carolina
7 better17 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Lake Waccamaw | NC |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.9% | 12.2% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 12.2% | 7.9% |
Columbus Regional Healthcare System
10.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Zillow puts the typical Lake Waccamaw home at about $325K
The rent at the middle of the market in Lake Waccamaw is $928 a month. Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home lost 1.5% of its value. The share of households in Lake Waccamaw who are owner-occupiers: 70%.
$325KZillow home value
| Lake Waccamaw | North Carolina towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $928 a month | $1,085 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 67% | 73% |
Typical home value
Lake Waccamaw$325K
North Carolina$332K
−1.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lake Waccamaw
19pages on Lake Waccamaw
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Lake Waccamaw; the nearest are
Southeastern Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Whiteville15.6 mi$2,600 in-state tuitionUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonUniversity or college · Public · Wilmington36.9 mi$7,277 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Lake Waccamaw residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.
A shrinking town
Lake Waccamaw has shrunk 16% since 2010
1,480 counted in 2010 and 1,296 in 2020; an estimated 1,239 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
About Lake Waccamaw
Town in North Carolina, United States
Lake Waccamaw is a town in Columbus County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,296 at the 2020 census. European settlers established their first settlements at Lake Waccamaw in the 18th century. Following their settlement and later establishment of naval stores, the discovery of turpentine oil led to the Wilmington-Manchester railroad track's creation. A shingle company was later converted to a lumber company. In 1910, a group of townspeople created the Waccamaw Club. The town surrounds Lake Waccamaw, which features 9,000 acres of diverse wildlife and is a major source of revenue for the town. The lake is bustling with many endemic species of fish, birds, mollusks, and othe…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 59 ft
- ZIP code
- 28450
- Area code
- 910
Questions about Lake Waccamaw
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lake Waccamaw, NC expensive?
Yes. That is 6.6 years of the area's median household income ($49,442 across the county). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.