2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Waynesville, NC vs Highlands, NC

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Highlights
Are people in Highlands older or younger than people in Waynesville?
- The Median Age in Highlands is 12.6 years older than in Waynesville.

Are housing costs cheaper in Highlands or Waynesville?
- Highlands housing costs are 148.8% more expensive than Waynesville housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Highlands or Waynesville?
- The average commute for residents of Highlands is 0.2 minutes longer than it is for residents of Waynesville.

Things to do in Waynesville?
Waynesville is a small town located in Haywood county, North Carolina. With a population of around 9,500 people, it is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers easy access to outdoor recreation attractions such as Lake Junaluska and Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Things to do in Highlands?
Living in Highlands, NC is an absolute dream. With its charming downtown area and breathtaking mountain views, it's easy to see why so many people choose to call this small town home. The community is incredibly welcoming and it's not hard to make friends or find a place to relax and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. There are plenty of outdoor activities perfect for all ages, from hiking trails that offer stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to picturesque lakes for fishing and swimming. Residents also enjoy a range of excellent restaurants, boutique shops, galleries, and festivals throughout the year. All in all, Highlands is a wonderful place to call home!

 Waynesville, NCHighlands, NCUnited States
 Population  Unlock1,105329,725,481
 Median Income$41,131  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock60.238.4
 Avg. Home Price$319,100  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.2%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time21.18  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Waynesville    4 Reviews

The post below was written a little less than 10 years ago and only a few months prior to my move to Waynesville. Anyone who moves to any city should do research before  More

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Over 17 years ago

Waynesville is a small town trying to keep up with the big dogs across the mountains. It puts on shows and have festivals downtown but it is not good enough. I have  More

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For those of us who weren't reared there, Waynesville, NC lends itself best to being a small-town retirement community. The "Gateway to the Smokies" is a blissfully  More

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Reviews for Highlands    4 Reviews

Love BestPlaces, but most of their statistics are incorrect for the actual town of Highlands which is extremely expensive. I assume they are using information from Macon  More

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Over 4 years ago

This used to be a quaint, quiet, sweet little town, but it has ballooned into a rich man's Mecca. Fist of all, it's a tiny town... so parking is at a premium and it gets  More

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Over 14 years ago

I have run two businesses in Highlands. It is a very seasonal business trend. The rents are high and so is the cost of doing business, including labor cost, cost of  More

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