About the Neighborhood
Waveland offers a quieter, lower-density take on Gulf Coast living, with open beach stretches, larger lots, and a lower cost per square foot than its neighbor Bay St. Louis. It's a relaxed buyer's market where elevated coastal homes, Acadian cottages, and inland ranches sit just minutes from Old Town dining and Stennis Space Center.
$289K–$295K
Median Sold Price
$309K–$332K
Median List Price
70–80 Days
Days on Market
95.6%–98%
Sale-to-List Ratio
Multiple offers are rare, with only about 6% of homes selling above list, and most closing 1.5% to 4.4% below asking. Roughly 4.5 to 5 months of supply keeps leverage with buyers. A persistent gap between list and sold prices means homes priced to recent comps sell steadily, while aspirational listings can sit past 120 days.
Values have risen about 13.4% over five years, with forecasts pointing to mild, steady appreciation of roughly 0.8% to 2% over the coming year.
$130K – $220K
Entry-level, inland lots & smaller homes
$250K – $400K
Mid-tier subdivisions like Shoreline Park & Pine Ridge Park
$650K – $1.8M+
Waterfront & upper-tier, including S. Beach Blvd
Buyers rarely face bidding wars. On homes listed 60+ days, offers are routinely written 3% to 6% below asking, often with requests for closing cost concessions or rate buydowns.
Key due diligence: confirm the flood zone and Elevation Certificate, review roof age and wind mitigation features for insurance, and order a property survey and title check, since post-Katrina rebuilds and irregular lots are common.
Well-priced homes in high-demand pockets go pending in 25 to 40 days. Price on key thresholds, like $299,000 instead of $305,000, and compare only against homes with a similar water proximity and elevation profile.
Insurance approval is the biggest hurdle in escrow. Having a recent roof inspection, wind mitigation certificate, and Elevation Certificate ready reassures buyers before they write an offer.
Short-Term Rentals
Permits are capped at 5% of residential structures (about 160 total), require special use approval, and don't transfer with a sale, so permitted properties command a premium.
Long-Term Rentals
Homes bought around $200K–$260K typically rent for $1,500–$2,000/month, backed by steady demand from Gulf Coast and Stennis workers.
Fix & Flip
Older inland cottages offer the clearest margins. Coastal renovations in flood zones can trigger elevation requirements that erase profit.
Architecture
Raised stilt homes with wraparound porches, Acadian cottages with dormers, newer coastal Craftsman and farmhouse builds, and inland brick ranches.
Getting Around
Mostly car-dependent, with golf carts popular for beach trips. Stennis Space Center is 15–20 minutes away, Bay St. Louis 5–10, and New Orleans about an hour.
Schools
Served by the Bay St. Louis–Waveland district, including Waveland Elementary and Bay High, with fringe areas zoned to Hancock County schools. Private options include Our Lady Academy and Saint Stanislaus.
Parks & Outdoors
Garfield Ladner Memorial Pier, the Waveland Lighthouse, Buccaneer State Park, and community spaces like Elmwood Bourgeois Park and the Bark Park.
Dining & Nightlife
Casual Gulf seafood, po-boys, and neighborhood taverns with live acoustic music. Old Town Bay St. Louis is a short drive for more nightlife.
Shopping
Everyday essentials along Highway 90, including a Walmart Supercenter, plus local shops and bakeries along Coleman Avenue.
Owner-occupied homes are assessed at 10% of market value, with an effective tax rate averaging about 1.20% to 1.30%.
Home Value | Occupancy | Assessed Value | Est. Annual Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
$300,000 | Primary Residence | $30,000 | ~$3,600 – $3,900* |
*Before Homestead Exemption, which reduces the bill by up to $300. Homeowners 65+ or 100% disabled are exempt on the first $7,500 of assessed value. Applications are filed with the Hancock County Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.
Is Waveland in a flood zone?
Most of it is. Homes near South Beach Blvd fall in AE or VE zones, which require flood insurance if financed. Homes north of Highway 90 often sit in lower-risk X zones, where coverage is optional but recommended.
How much is home insurance in Waveland?
Most homes carry hazard, windstorm, and flood policies. Combined premiums often range from $3,500 to $7,000+ a year, depending on roof age, elevation, and distance to the Gulf.
Can I run a short-term rental in Waveland?
Yes, but permits are capped at 5% of the city's housing stock and don't transfer with a sale. Verify permit availability with Waveland City Hall before closing.
How does Waveland compare to Bay St. Louis?
Waveland is quieter and more residential, with larger lots and a lower cost per square foot, while Bay St. Louis has the walkable Old Town just 5–10 minutes away. Compare Bay St. Louis and Waveland.
Whether you're buying, selling, or investing, our local team is here to guide every step.
7,066 people live in Waveland, where the median age is 41.6 and the average individual income is $31,885. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Waveland, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Caribbean Breeze, Pink Lady's Snowballs, and Smiley Donuts.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining | 0.48 miles | 3 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.53 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.53 miles | 12 reviews | 4.9/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.59 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.59 miles | 13 reviews | 3.3/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.6 miles | 2 reviews | 3/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.61 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.61 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.63 miles | 171 reviews | 4.2/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.64 miles | 68 reviews | 3.6/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.65 miles | 17 reviews | 3.6/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.69 miles | 1 review | 5/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.73 miles | 35 reviews | 3.8/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.85 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining | 0.85 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Shopping | 0.61 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.5 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.56 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.61 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.69 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.73 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.8 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
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Waveland has 3,141 households, with an average household size of 2.25. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Waveland do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 7,066 people call Waveland home. The population density is 832 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
0-9 Years
10-17 Years
18-24 Years
25-64 Years
65-74 Years
75+ Years
Education Level
Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Marital Status
Blue vs White Collar Workers
Blue Collar:
White Collar:
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