Waxhaw is an incorporated town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 20,534 according to the 2020 Census. The population grew 108.28% from 2010. The name is derived from the indigenous people who lived in the area, who were known as the Waxhaw people.

Official town website ↗

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

How Waxhaw ranks

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#5Fastest growing in NC #5Safest in NC #3Rent easiest to afford in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code28173

Area code704

Living in Waxhaw

Housing in Waxhaw

$710K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Waxhaw home is worth about $710,000, about the same as a year ago, 112% above the North Carolina typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market49

Sale-to-list99.8%

Sold in May34

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Waxhaw

Safety Grade A

Waxhaw reports less crime per resident than 88% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Waxhaw 0.5

North Carolina 3.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Waxhaw 3.5

North Carolina 18.1

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in Waxhaw

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Waxhaw for work: only 6% work in town. The top destinations are Charlotte (48%), Monroe (4%) and Raleigh (2%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

Charlotte

48%

Monroe

Raleigh

Indian Trail

6%Work in townlive and work in Waxhaw 18 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 4,136Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Waxhaw →

Health in Waxhaw

Health Grade A

Healthier than 93% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with North Carolina

19better than NC·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 12 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▲ 4 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 3▲ 1▼ 3 close Mind 2▲ 3 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.1%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethNC 13.9% · better 8.6%Fewer adults facing food insecurityNC 15.2% · better 72.3%Fewer adults treating high blood pressureNC 76.7% · worse

Care nearby

Novant Health Ballantyne Medical CenterCharlotte · 9.3 mi · ER

Kintegra at Atrium Women's Center - WaxhawWaxhaw · 2.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · part of Waxhaw

DentalShortage · part of Waxhaw

Mental healthShortage · part of Waxhaw

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

Natural hazards in Waxhaw

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 74% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

1Does Waxhaw flood?paid flood claims since 2003 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Waxhaw MapWaxhaw vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Waxhaw

Full climate →

Waxhaw has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 31°, and about 3 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

55° / 33°Winter

73° / 48°Spring

89° / 67°Summer

73° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Waxhaw get?About 3 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 5, with the last in spring around Mar 31.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Waxhaw →

Schools in Waxhaw

All Waxhaw schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Waxhaw’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 81% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#52Best public schoolsof 252 in NC

DistrictUnion County Public SchoolsSchools4

Kensington Elementary AElementary · Grades K–5 · 901 students Waxhaw Elementary B-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 615 students South Providence D-High · Grades 6–12 · 91 students Northpoint Christian AcademyOther · Grades K–12 · 248 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 NC. Ratings are from neighbors.