PlainZIP

Waycross, GA · standard

ZIP Code 31501

Ware County, Georgia — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

15,576
456/sq mi
$37,314
Median income
$113,600
Median home value
17.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Waycross pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

4th pct
household income, US ZIPs
14th pct
home value, US ZIPs
456
people per sq mi
53%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 31501 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 31501 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 34.2 square miles in Waycross, Ware County, Georgia. The area is home to 15,576 residents, producing a population density of 456 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 31501 against Georgia and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 31501 sits at $37,314 (47% below the Georgia average), while per-capita income is $21,580. The poverty rate stands at 28.3% and the unemployment rate at 10.3%. On housing, the median home value is $113,600 (53% below the state average) with median rent at $741 per month, and 52.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 31501 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 17.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, and the average commute is —. We also surface 2 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 additional ZIPs sharing Ware County, so you can benchmark 31501 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 31501

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 31501.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 31501, Waycross, GA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

15,576

Population

34.2

Area (sq mi)

456

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 31501?

39.2

Median Age

45.6%

Male

54.4%

Female

2.5%

Foreign-Born

White 47.8%
African American 48.5%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.0%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$37,314

Median Household Income

-47% vs state

$21,580

Per Capita Income

28.3%

Poverty Rate

10.3%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 31501 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income — the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$37,314 4th percentile higher than 4% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). This entry sits in this band. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Above this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 54.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 17.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,992

Total Housing Units

5,501

Occupied Units

1,491

Vacant Units

2.42

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 52.5%
Renter 47.5%

$113,600

Median Home Value

-53% vs state

$741

Median Rent

1972

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+3.2%

YoY Change (2024)

217

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+117%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 31501 have increased 3.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +117% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.1% 139
2021 +8.3% 150
2022 +26.3% 190
2023 +11.1% 210
2024 +3.2% 217

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 588 business establishments in ZIP 31501, employing approximately 7,628 people with a combined annual payroll of $326,865,000.

588

Businesses

7,628

Employees

$326.9M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 126 21.4%
Health care and social assistance 122 20.8%
Accommodation and food services 71 12.1%
Other services (except public administration) 56 9.5%
Finance and insurance 43 7.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 38 6.5%
Construction 23 3.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 20 3.4%
Wholesale trade 19 3.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 19 3.2%
Transportation and warehousing 14 2.4%
Manufacturing 13 2.2%
Information 10 1.7%
Management of companies and enterprises 4 0.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 0.7%
Educational services 3 0.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 31501 vs 31503 →

ZIP 31501 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 31501 ranks #2 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 31501 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 31501 ranks #3 of 3 neighboring ZIPs — local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
31503 Waycross, GA 21,116 4.1 mi
31516 Blackshear, GA 14,735 8.2 mi

More ZIP Codes in Ware County

31503 standard
Waycross, GA
Pop: 21,116
31552 standard
Millwood, GA
Pop: 932
31550 standard
Manor, GA
Pop: 780

Related Areas

Ware County Waycross, GA Georgia

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 31501 in? ▼
ZIP code 31501 (Waycross) is located in Ware County, Georgia. Ware County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/ware-ga.
What is the population of ZIP code 31501? ▼
ZIP code 31501 in Waycross, GA has a population of 15,576 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 31501? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 31501 is $37,314, which is 51% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 31501? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 31501 is $113,600, which is 59% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 31501? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 31501 is African American at 48.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 31501? ▼
ZIP code 31501 has 588 business establishments employing approximately 7,628 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 31501? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 31501 are: Retail trade (126), Health care and social assistance (122), Accommodation and food services (71). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 31501? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 31501 increased by 3.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 117%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 31501? ▼
In ZIP code 31501, 54.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 31501? ▼
In ZIP code 31501, approximately 52.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 47.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 31501? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 31501 is 28.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Waycross, GA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.