| | Waves, NC | Rodanthe, NC | United States |
| Population | 46 | 135 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 47.8% | 74.8% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 52.2% | 25.2% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 60.1 | 59.7 | 38.4 |
| space3 | | | |
| Population - 2010 | 103 | 418 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 136 | 266 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 120 | 233 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | -47.8% | -52.3% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | -40.8% | -45.5% | 30.8% |
| space4 | | | |
| Population Density | 85.3 | 123.6 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 0.5 | 1.1 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.0 | 0.0 | 264,836.8 |
| space | | | |
| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | Waves, NC | Rodanthe, NC | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 19.6% | 14.8% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 0.0% | 24.4% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 28.3% | 16.3% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 32.6% | 17.8% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 19.6% | 26.7% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.9% |
| space1 | | | |
| Race | | | |
| | Waves, NC | Rodanthe, NC | United States |
| White | 100.0% | 56.3% | 59.4% |
| Black | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% | 9.6% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 0.0% | 34.1% | 18.4% |
| space2 | | | |
| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | Waves, NC | Rodanthe, NC | United States |
| Married Population | 60.9% | 58.5% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 60.9% | 58.5% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 39.1% | 41.5% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 19.6% | 14.8% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 19.6% | 26.7% | 5.6% |
| space5 | | | |
| Household Size | 2.09 | 1.36 | 2.60 |
| Households | 22 | 99 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 13 | 29 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 0.0% | 0.0% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 100.0% | 100.0% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 9 | 70 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 0.0% | 0.0% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10.8% |