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Waveland

Waveland

Located in Hancock County

$254 Average Price per Sq Ft
1 Home For Sale

Storms haven’t shaken Waveland’s enduring spirit and scenery

The community of Waveland, home to roughly 7,000 on the Mississippi Sound, has weathered its share of storms. Two devastating hurricanes forced many to relocate. Those who stayed behind have grown closer from living through tough times. “We come back, we rebuild,” says Susanne Ashman, broker and owner of Ashman-Mollere Realty. “My parents moved us here when I was 7. Now, I have my son and my granddaughter working with me. Four generations. How’s that for resilience?” Waveland’s natural scenery is equally enduring, featuring white sandy beaches, murky bayous and dense hardwood forests. The city lies in rural Hancock County, just over 20 miles from a major employer, John C. Stennis Space Center. “They test rocket engines, so every now and again, everything rattles,” Ashman says with a laugh.

Ground Zero Museum honors decades of storm survival

Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June to the end of November. Waveland was devastated by Hurricane Camille in 1969. In 2005, it was “ground zero” for Hurricane Katrina, which brought a 26-foot surge. “That area close to the beach, south of the railroad tracks, was destroyed. Most of us came back to slabs,” Ashman says. After Katrina, the historic Waveland Elementary was the only public structure left on the main road, Coleman Avenue. Having survived two hurricanes, the building was repurposed, renovated and later reopened as the Lili Stahler-Murphy Ground Zero Museum, a testament to Waveland’s resilience.

Verandas and lanais add beachy charm to Waveland homes

Home prices here span a broad range, from less than $100,000 to $1.2 million. While the median is around $460,000, most recent sales fall between $120,000 and $400,000. Most homes sit on lots under a third of an acre. Properties close to the Gulf on the south side, and along the north side’s Bayou Philip, tend to cost more. The city features a variety of classic coastal styles like cottages, bungalows and stilt houses. Cape Cod and Colonial Revival influences can be seen across many houses as well, especially New Traditional properties. Verandas and lanais are popular fixtures. Many homes are inside special flood zones, requiring flood insurance for federally backed mortgages.

Waveland schools earn solid grades and early college access

Two school districts serve Waveland, but most of the city falls within the boundaries of the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, which earns an overall A-minus on Niche. Schools in this district include Waveland Elementary, North Bay Elementary and Bay Waveland Middle – each graded B-plus. Bay High has an A-minus. Some parts of northwest Waveland are zoned for the Hancock County School District, also graded A-minus. South Hancock Elementary, Hancock Middle and Hancock High earn B-plus grades. Pearl River Community College offers high schoolers the chance to start earning college credit early with its dual-enrollment program.

Outdoor recreation includes camping, crabbing and birding

Waveland has several neighborhood parks and playgrounds where residents can bring their kids to play or their dogs to run. Waveland’s public beach features free parking and sand volleyball courts. It’s also home to a lighthouse, a pier and the city’s Veterans Memorial. Some miles down the coast, Buccaneer State Park is a hub for outdoor recreation, spanning over 340 acres. It has hundreds of campsites, a disc golf course, a nature trail and a water park. Visitors can kayak, bird watch and even go crabbing. Sweet Bay Hollow Nature Preserve, an ideal birding spot, is a scenic area established post-Katrina to revitalize the area’s Southern hardwood forest and bayhead swamp ecosystems.

Southern comfort food and po’ boys at Dat Kitchen Too

Fueling up, running to the bank and other errands take residents to the main road, U.S. Route 90. Walmart Supercenter and Claiborne Hill Supermarket are grocery-shopping go-tos. The thoroughfare is also lined with chain restaurants, such as Sonic Drive-In, Subway, Arby’s and Papa John’s Pizza. Local joints include Dat Kitchen Too, a family-owned eatery popular for po’ boys, fried catfish and other Southern comfort foods. For waterfront dining, Bay Saint Louis has several restaurants around its harbor. The neighboring city also has the nearest hospital, Ochsner Medical Center, less than 5 miles away.

Amtrak line links New Orleans, Gulfport and Mobile

Waveland is car-dependent, but a train station is nearby in Bay Saint Louis. Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service runs from New Orleans, LA, just over 55 miles west, to Mobile, AL, just under 100 miles east. The line also connects to Gulfport, about a 20-mile drive away via U.S. Route 90. Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is just over 30 miles away.

Micaela Willoughby
Written By
Micaela Willoughby

Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to Misty Elsworth, an experienced agent in this area.

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

Parks in this Area

Waveland Housing Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$475,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$460,000
Last 12 months Home Sales
0
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$254

Area Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
8
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1978
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,737
Below the national average
1,925
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
12,850

Open Houses

  • Sunday, Sep 14
    Open Sun 1PM - 3PM

    410 Saint Jude St, Waveland, MS 39576

    $199,000

    • 3 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,008 Sq Ft
    • 410 Saint Jude St
    • New 27 days ago

    Neat, clean & fresh on the market, this elegant domicile offers 3b/2b with a bonus/office room. Sitting on a shady fenced lot in a quiet neighborhood, it has numerous trees and a backyard 10x10 shed, complete with power for your tools. A short ~1 mile walk takes you to the Beach, and a quick drive takes you to the Casinos or Buccaneer State Park.

    Margie Mayfield Ashman-Mollere Realty, Inc.

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  • Saturday, Sep 13
    Open Sat 1PM - 3PM

    230 Marcus Dr, Waveland, MS 39576

    $375,000

    • 2 Beds
    • 2 Baths
    • 1,260 Sq Ft
    • 230 Marcus Dr

    Step into laid-back luxury in this super cute, cozy, and spacious open floor plan with 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths. Built on concrete-reinforced pilings with 2 x 6 exterior walls and equipped with easy to operate accordion style storm shutters, this home combines durability with style and comfort. Situated on two lots embraced by nature, this property provides ample space for outdoor living and

    Reggie Withers Compass

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Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

Waveland Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
7,291
Median Age
42
Population under 18
24.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$47,532
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$71,258

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
87%
College Graduates
26.6%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.2%
% Population in Labor Force
61.3%
On par with the national average
65.1%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
69''
Average Winter Low Temperature
44°F
Average Summer High Temperature
90°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®®

36 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®®

11 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
Waveland
Misty Elsworth
Coastal Realty Group
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