A small-town life surrounded by nature in Waycross
Waycross is a small southeastern Georgia city surrounded by the natural wonders at Okefenokee Swamp. Homebuyers are drawn to low prices and the slow pace of life in this city of 13,174 residents, a population which declined 10% from 2010. Some claim the name Waycross originates from the railroad intersection, while others say it's due to an abundance of churches. Both potential namesakes remain a part of life, with the transportation industry being a major employer and Sunday services at churches serving as social events. "It's kind of like your hometown, neighborhood type of town. Everybody knows everybody," says lifelong resident Rick Germano, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Access Realty, who has sold homes in the area for 15 years. "It's just an all-around family type of area. It's in what's called the Bible Belt. There are a lot of churchgoers, a lot of churches. It's pretty much an easy-going type of living atmosphere."
Waycross is a humble city that is spread out, but it has all the conviences of home.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a nature lovers paridise and is full of wonder and wildlife.
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Homes in Waycross sell for less than the national median
The median home price in Waycross is $164,750, significantly lower than in the nearby Glynn County and the national median. "Waycross is an inexpensive place to live. Homes are very affordable compared to other cities," Germano says. "And the cost of living is relatively inexpensive." Many of the area's bungalows and ranch-style homes were built in the first half of the 20th century, with construction expanding rapidly through 2000. "There's not a lot of new construction; there is some but not a lot. Most of them are resales," he says.
Some of the newer homes are good sized with garages and nice sized yards.
Most of the homes in Waycross are older but well kepted and no less loved.
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Okefenokee Swamp's diverse wildlife
Okefenokee Swamp, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, is partly located in Waycross. The 438,000-acre wetland's diverse habitat includes conifer forests, carnivorous plants and black bears. Alligators and snakes live on the swamp's grounds, while egrets and herons occupy the skies. Laura S. Walker State Park has fishing and nature trails passing by owls and tortoises. It is the first state park named after a woman, a prominent conservationist and author from Waycross.
These alligators are enjoying the sunshine on the riverbank at the Okefenokee Swwamp Park.
There are many outdoor things to do in Waycross, among them is hiking the trails at Laura S Walker State Park.
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Getting to other cities from Waycross
Highway 84, which becomes Plant Avenue in Waycross, travels 123 miles northeast to Savannah. Interstate 95 is 55 miles to the east in the coastal city of Brunswick. From there, drivers can go north to Savannah and all the way to Maine or Florida's southern coast. Highway 23 travels 70 miles to the Jacksonville International Airport. The city's location along railroad tracks brings transportation and warehousing jobs related to CSX Transportation's Rice Yard. Other top employers include home construction companies, retail and service jobs. Memorial Satilla Health employs over 1,000 people.
The CSX Rice yard is a buzz of activity for trains and its cargo everyday.
Memorial Satilla Health is the place to go for all of your health care needs.
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Community gathers at the annual Swamp Fest
At Swamp Fest in April, downtown comes alive with music performances, vendors, food-eating competitions and pageants. When the sun goes down, fireworks light up the sky and there's dancing in the streets. Musicians come to the Okefenokee Fairgrounds in October for the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull. It is named after a former resident who pursued a music career after seeing Elvis perform at the C.C. McCray City Auditorium, which now hosts community events.
The Okefenokee fair grounds are were many events happen throughout the year in Waycross.
The C.C. McCray City Auditorium is a multi-purpose facility to host a wide range of events
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Dining in downtown Waycross
Waycross's historic downtown district has several restaurants, from cafes to sandwich shops and local boutiques. Walmart is on Memorial Drive, neighboring several big-box stores and chain restaurants.
Local restaurants in historic downtown is were people meet and talk about the days events.
Come a nd enjoy a great dinnera t the Cracker Barrell in Waycross Georgia.
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Students attend highly rated Ware County schools
The Ware County School District gets a B rating on Niche. Over 2,500 students attend the area's South Georgia State College, where students can pursue 21 associate and six bachelor's degrees.
Ware County High School is a B rated on Niche and has lots of school spirit.
South Georgia State College offers Associates and Bachelors dregrees.
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Hot Georgia summers and mild winters
Waycross experiences long, humid summers and mild winters, with temperatures rarely dipping below freezing. Flooding can occur throughout the city, particularly in areas on Brunel Street and to the east and west of Plant Avenue. The area suffered significant damage, including power outages and downed trees in 2024 as Hurricane Helene swept through the southeast. According to the FBI Crime Database, there was a 33% decrease in violent crime and a 7% increase in nonviolent crime in Waycross from 2022 to 2023.
In the Okefenokee Swamp you can find wildflowers groing along the riverbanks in the sunshine.
Flowers are bluming in Febuary , with beautiful weather in Waycross Georgis
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Written By
Josh Gully
Photography Contributed By
Lori Smith
Video By
Nathan Allen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Wendy Mattox,
an experienced agent in this area.
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