Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina
A $295,000 home here costs
$2,375per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $102,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,608. The real number is $767 higher every month, 48% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Columbus County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lake Waccamaw from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,666 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Columbus County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lake Waccamaw against Columbus County and North Carolina
| Measure | Lake Waccamaw | Columbus County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,800 | $128,300 |
| Median property tax | $2,331 | $1,120 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.791% | 0.873% |
| Median gross rent | $1,069 | $775 |
| Population | 1,666 | 50,453 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lake Waccamaw sits in Columbus County, which averages a high of 90.1°F in its hottest month and a low of 31.9°F in its coldest, with 50.88" of precipitation a year and 35% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,763 cooling and 2,913 heating degree days, which is what sets the $152 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Columbus County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Columbus County
Full Columbus County cost breakdown · Every county in North Carolina
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lake Waccamaw averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lake Waccamaw every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Lake Waccamaw I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lake Waccamaw?
A $295,000 home in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina costs approximately $2,375 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,608 principal and interest, $194 property tax, $107 homeowners insurance, $220 utilities and $246 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lake Waccamaw?
Lake Waccamaw has an effective property tax rate of 0.791%, based on a median home value of $294,800 and median real estate taxes of $2,331. That is lower than the Columbus County average of 0.873%.
What is the average home price in Lake Waccamaw?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina is $294,800, against $128,300 across Columbus County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lake Waccamaw?
Median gross rent in Lake Waccamaw is $1,069 a month, against $2,375 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lake Waccamaw?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $102,000 a year. That covers the full $2,375 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lake Waccamaw, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for North Carolina.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.