Educational guide, not financial advice. Data checked October 8, 2026 against the linked sources; programs are subject to qualification and terms can change.
Waxhaw at a glance
| County | Union |
|---|---|
| Property tax | 0.4342 + 0.29 = 0.7242 per $100 of value (county + town, FY2026-27). On a home valued at $300,000: about $2,173 a year. Source. The recommended budget held the rate at 0.29; confirm in the adopted budget. |
| School district | Union County Public Schools — the assigned school depends on the exact address. |
| Drive time, off-peak | Uptown Charlotte: about 39 min (23 miles) · Ballantyne: about 24 min (13 miles). Free-flow estimate from the town center (OpenStreetMap/OSRM, checked October 8, 2026); rush hour takes longer. |
| Market | Waxhaw, September 2026: median sale price $655,000 (-6.4% vs. Sept. 2025) · year to date: $698,500 · 3.5 months of supply · 74 closed sales in the month. Canopy Realtor® Association / ShowingTime. |
| USDA (location) | Central Waxhaw falls inside the ineligible area on the USDA map, but about 2 miles to the south the map already shows eligible area. Checked October 8, 2026; boundaries change and don’t follow town limits: verify the exact address. Income limits also apply. |
| NC 1st Home Advantage | Sales-price limit: $525,000, subject to current NCHFA guidelines (program guide, July 2026). |
Since 1889, with its history on display
The town incorporated in 1889 and takes its name from the Waxhaw settlements of 1740. Much of that past is on view at the Museum of the Waxhaws: a room on the debate over Andrew Jackson's birthplace, War of 1812 and Civil War displays, and a spot to pan for gold and gems.
Downtown is under construction right now. The Downtown Water Project has been working along the North Main Street corridor since April 13, so some central streets may look different when you visit. Town business is handled at 4218 Waxhaw Marvin Road.
Three price steps in Waxhaw's new construction
The entry step is Blythe Mill Townhomes by Eastwood Homes, from the mid $300s. One level up, the same builder sells Rone Creek from the high $400s (Eastwood page). At the top, Toll Brothers opened Toll Brothers at The Bluffs at Wesley Chapel in February 2026, which the company places in Waxhaw, from $1.1 million with homes of 3,905 to 5,200+ square feet (Toll announcement). All are “from” prices seen in October 2026.
The rest of town is resale: about 7,084 housing units (ACS 2024 5-year) on 12.1 square miles, 83.0% owner-occupied, with a Census median value of $549,400. Median gross rent is $1,840. Schools fall under Union County Public Schools, assigned by address.
Prices drifting down, sales moving faster
September 2026 left Waxhaw with a $655,000 median, $45,000 less than September 2025's $700,000 (-6.4%). The year through September sits at $698,500, below $725,000 for the same stretch a year earlier (-3.7%), across 764 closings.
Speed went the other way: 42 days on average to sell, against 65 a year before. The month saw 74 sales, and supply moved from 3.2 to 3.5 months. For negotiating, that cuts both ways: there are lower price comparisons than a year ago, but homes that sell don't wait around.
The town rate: 0.29 in the recommended budget
The recommended FY2026-27 budget of $26,986,429 keeps the town rate at 29 cents per $100, the same as FY2025-26 according to the town. The board approved the budget on June 9, 2026, yet none of the sources we checked shows the adopted rate in writing; ask the town before treating the figure as final.
If confirmed, Union County's 0.4342 brings the total to 0.7242. On a $655,000 home, that's about $4,744 a year before exemptions. A possible fire charge also went unverified.
Ballantyne in about 24 minutes, Uptown in 39
The OpenStreetMap/OSRM estimate from October 8, 2026, traffic-free from the town center, comes to 13 miles to Ballantyne and 23 to Uptown Charlotte. In practice, Waxhaw's workers report a 32.0-minute average commute to the Census (ACS 2020-2024), so test the route at your real start time.
Which programs fit each price step
Entry townhomes. This is where the Community Partners Loan Pool can fit, subject to qualification: up to 25% of the price or $50,000, whichever is less, for incomes under 80% of area median, through a member organization and after 6 hours of education plus 2 hours of one-on-one counseling. Its Union County sales-price limits are $370,000 for an existing home and $380,000 for a new one, on top of county income limits.
Up to $525,000. NC 1st Home Advantage adds $15,000 toward the down payment for first-time buyers, veterans or buyers in targeted census tracts, with 640 credit and paired with the NC Home Advantage Mortgage; subject to qualification. Rone Creek starts near that cap.
Above the cap. The NC Home Advantage Mortgage on its own provides up to 3% of the loan for incomes up to $158,000, with no first-time requirement, and a VA loan asks no down payment and no PMI of eligible veterans; both subject to qualification.
USDA. A USDA loan, subject to qualification, depends on the exact spot: on October 8, 2026, the center and a point about 2 miles north fell inside the ineligible area, while another about 2 miles south fell outside it. Verify the exact address.
FHA (3.5%; since May 25, 2025, U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with narrow exceptions) and the ITIN mortgage are also available, subject to qualification. Terms and funding can change, and your lender confirms them. More on the programs hub.
Waxhaw next to nearby towns
| Town | Tax per $100 (FY2026-27) | Median, Sept 2026 | Months of supply | To Uptown, off-peak | Center vs. USDA ineligible area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waxhaw | 0.7242* | $655,000 | 3.5 | ~39 min | inside |
| Weddington | 0.4692* | $474,000 (county) | 3.3 | ~28 min | inside |
| Wesley Chapel | 0.4567 | $474,000 (county) | 3.3 | ~35 min | inside |
| Monroe | 0.8742* | $405,000 | 3.6 | ~37 min | inside |
Same sources as the data card (county/town tax tables, Canopy Realtor® Association/ShowingTime, OSRM, the USDA map). “Check”: town rate not verified. *Reported or recommended rate, not read from the adopted ordinance. “(county)”: Canopy doesn’t report that town separately. USDA describes only the town’s center point; verify each address.
Frequently asked questions
What's at the Museum of the Waxhaws?
The museum gathers local history: exhibits on the debate over Andrew Jackson's birthplace, War of 1812 and Civil War pieces, and an activity where you pan for gold and gems. It's a good introduction to a town incorporated in 1889 and named for the Waxhaw settlements of 1740.
Are homes selling quickly in Waxhaw in 2026?
Faster than a year ago. Per Canopy Realtor® Association, homes sold in September 2026 took 42 days on average, versus 65 in September 2025. Meanwhile, the median dropped to $655,000 (-6.4%). Having your pre-approval ready before showings lets you respond in time.
What are the least and most expensive new builds?
According to builder sites as of October 2026, the entry point is Eastwood Homes' Blythe Mill Townhomes, from the mid $300s. At the other end, Toll Brothers at The Bluffs at Wesley Chapel starts at $1.1 million, with homes of 3,905 to 5,200+ square feet. In between, Rone Creek begins in the high $400s.
Is Waxhaw's 0.29 the final rate for 2026-27?
It's the rate in the recommended budget, which held it at the FY2025-26 level. The board adopted the budget on June 9, 2026, but we didn't find the adopted rate in writing. Ask the town or check the property's tax bill; with the county, the total would be 0.7242 if confirmed.
Which part of Waxhaw fell outside the USDA ineligible area?
In our October 8, 2026 check, only the test point about 2 miles south of the center fell outside the ineligible area; the center and the north point were inside. Boundaries change and don't follow town lines, so verify the exact address. The loan itself is also subject to qualification.
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