Waycross is the county seat of and the only incorporated city in Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its population was 13,942 in the 2020 census. Waycross gets its name from the city's location at key railroad junctions; lines from six directions meet at the city.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Waycross ranks

All →

#9Most affordable in GA #12Most walkable in GA #12Lowest property tax in GA All GA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code31501, 31502, 31503

Area code912

Living in Waycross

Housing in Waycross

$148K▲ 3.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Waycross home is worth about $148,000, up 3.3% in a year, 55% below the Georgia typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market107

Sale-to-list95.5%

Sold in May15

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Waycross

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Waycross reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 97% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Waycross 6.5

Georgia 3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Waycross 40.2

Georgia 14

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Waycross

D⁻

Health Grade D−

Healthier than 2% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Georgia

2better than GA·20worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▼ 3 close Habits 1▲ 2▼ 1 close Care 1▲ 2▼ 4 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.3%Fewer binge drinkersGA 14.5% · better 81.2%More adults treating high blood pressureGA 77.4% · better 17.6%More adults facing a utility shut-offGA 9.6% · worse

Care nearby

Memorial Satilla HealthWaycross · 1.2 mi · ER

Mckinney Community Health CenterWaycross · 0.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Waycross · CMS · HRSAHealth in Waycross →

Natural hazards in Waycross

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 35% of U.S. communities.

🌀 Hurricanes🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

22Does Waycross flood?paid flood claims since 1979 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Waycross MapWaycross vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Waycross →

Schools in Waycross

All Waycross schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Waycross’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 57% of Georgia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#96Best public schoolsof 231 in GA

DistrictWare CountySchools7

Center Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 470 students Williams Heights Elementary School B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 436 students Memorial Drive Elementary School B+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 346 students Waycross Discovery Montessori SchoolElementary · Grades PK–4 · 36 students Waycross Middle School B-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 606 students Ware County High School B-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,633 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within GA. Ratings are from neighbors.