Waycross, GA · standard
ZIP Code 31503
Ware County, Georgia - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,116
- 25/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $55,895
- Median income Below-median income area
- $109,900
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 12.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waycross pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 13th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 25
- people per sq mi
- 70%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 31503 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 31503 (Waycross, GA) rose +10.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 228.7 in 2023 to 251.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 31503 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waycross, Ware County, Georgia, with 21,116 residents across 858.4 square miles, a density of 25 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 31503 reports a modest median household income of $55,895 (21% below the average Georgia ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,748. The poverty rate is 17.4%, with unemployment at 3.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $109,900 (54% below the average Georgia ZIP), and median rent is $820; owner occupancy is 69.8%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.1, and the average commute is 22 minutes. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 3 more in Ware County, so 31503 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 31503
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waycross, GA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 31503.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
56 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
40 establishments
- Construction
Construction
38 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 21
Accommodation and food services
21 establishments
- Wholesale trade 16
Wholesale trade
16 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, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 31503, Waycross, GA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,116
Population
858.4
Area (sq mi)
25
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 31503?
36.1
Median Age
52.9%
Male
47.1%
Female
4.0%
Foreign-Born
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?
$55,895
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$24,748
Per Capita Income
17.4%
Poverty Rate
3.5%
Unemployment Rate
22.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 31503 ranks among Georgia ZIPs
Waycross, GA household income vs. every Georgia ZIP code
Median household income among 677 reporting Georgia ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$55,895 35th percentile higher than 35% of 677 Georgia ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Georgia 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,920housing units
8,920
Total Housing Units
7,570
Occupied Units
1,350
Vacant Units
2.69
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$109,900
Median Home Value
-54% vs state ZIP avg
$820
Median Rent
1984
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
+10.1%
YoY Change (2024)
252
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+152%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 31503 have increased 10.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +152% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -0.5% | 153 |
| 2021 | +16.3% | 178 |
| 2022 | +12.0% | 199 |
| 2023 | +14.8% | 229 |
| 2024 | +10.1% | 252 |
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 262 business establishments in ZIP 31503, employing approximately 4,455 people with a combined annual payroll of $234,178,000.
262
Businesses
4,455
Employees
$234.2M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 56 | 21.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 40 | 15.3% |
| Construction | 38 | 14.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 21 | 8.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 16 | 6.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 15 | 5.7% |
| Manufacturing | 14 | 5.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 13 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 4.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 10 | 3.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 3.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 1.1% |
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 31503 vs 31501 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31501 | Waycross, GA | 15,576 | 4.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 31503, both outside GA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (21,116 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Ware County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 31503 in?
ZIP code 31503 (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 31503?
ZIP code 31503 in Waycross, GA has a population of 21,116 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 31503?
The median household income in ZIP 31503 is $55,895, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 31503?
The median home value in ZIP 31503 is $109,900, which is 60% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 31503?
The largest racial group in ZIP 31503 is White at 70.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 31503?
ZIP code 31503 has 262 business establishments employing approximately 4,455 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 31503?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 31503 are: Retail trade (56), Other services (except public administration) (40), Construction (38). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 31503?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 31503 increased by 10.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 152%. 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 31503?
In ZIP code 31503, 57.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.7% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 31503?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 31503 is 22.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 31503?
In ZIP code 31503, approximately 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 30.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 31503?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 31503 is 17.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 31503's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 31503 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waycross, GA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.