Waco is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, home to about 171 people across 0.8 square miles. Its ZIP code is 28169, and parts of 28021 are in Waco too.
Homes sold for a median of $170 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Population171204 per sq mi
Median home value$92,500Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$170Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking13%Latest 3 months
ZIP codes in Waco
2 ZIP codes, 1 shared with neighboring towns
Waco, NC28169Not enough recent sales for market figures yet.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Waco. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
The Waco guide is on the way
We’re writing up Waco’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do
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Around Waco
Distances
Nearest major airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)28 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+
Charlotte, NC34 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+
Philadelphia, PA469 miles away
Straight-line distances from the center of Waco; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Who represents Waco
U.S. Representative · North Carolina’s 14th DistrictTim Moore (R)
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Population over time
Waco had 310 residents in the 2020 census, down 5% since 2000.
It’s the 718th largest of 771 towns in North Carolina by population.
Cleveland County grew from 25,078 residents in 1900 to 99,519 in 2020.
Cleveland County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Weather by month
Average highs peak around 89°F in summer, and winter lows average 30°F. About 49.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 6 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Lincolnton 4 W, NC weather station (8 miles away).
Jobs in Cleveland County
30,800 jobs at 2,028 businesses in Cleveland County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Health care
Nearest hospitals
Atrium Health ClevelandGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Shelby8.6 miles
Atrium Health LincolnGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Lincolnton14.3 miles
Caromont Regional Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 4 of 5 · Gastonia16.3 miles
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances.
Places in and around Waco
Parks (1 nearby)
Westgate Park · 8 acres0.6 mi
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Food Lion0.9 mi
Pharmacies
Tas Drug1.5 mi
Houser Drug1.9 mi
Walmart Pharmacy4.5 mi
Libraries
Cherryville Public Library2.1 mi
Museums
C Grier Beam Truck Museum1.8 mi
Cherryville Historical Museum1.8 mi
Cherryville Railroad Museum2.1 mi
Theaters and performance venues
Little Theater1.5 mi
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.