Waxhaw, NC
Waxhaw Homes for Sale: An Honest Area Guide
Direct answer
Waxhaw is an incorporated town of about 23,100 in western Union County, south of Ballantyne along NC 16 (Providence Road), with a historic downtown built around the railroad. It's known for larger lots, master-planned communities, and custom homes. The median sale price was $655,000 in September 2026 and $698,500 year to date, per Canopy MLS. The biggest misconception: Waxhaw's 28173 ZIP had about three times as many people as the town itself at the 2020 Census, so most of the ZIP's residents live outside town limits.
Homes for sale
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The numbers
What do homes cost in Waxhaw right now?
Source: Canopy Realtor Association: Local Market Update for September 2026 (city reports) and Charlotte Region Marketwatch Q3 2026 (ZIP and county tables), data current as of October 5, 2026. Medians do not account for concessions or down payment assistance.
At a glance
Waxhaw at a glance
| Item | Waxhaw |
|---|---|
| County | Union, NC |
| Government | Incorporated town, surrounded by large unincorporated areas |
| Population | 23,140 (Census estimate, July 2025); ZIP 28173 had about 64,100 at the 2020 Census |
| Public schools | Union County Public Schools, not CMS (assignment by address) |
| Main roads | NC 16 (Providence Rd), NC 75, Waxhaw Pkwy, Cuthbertson Rd, Rea Rd extension |
| Drive to Ballantyne and Uptown | Ballantyne about 20 to 25 minutes off-peak, 30 to 45 at peak; Uptown about 40 to 45 off-peak, 55 to 75 at peak (estimates) |
| Property tax | About $0.72 per $100 inside town limits (Union County $0.4342 plus Town of Waxhaw $0.29, FY2027); unincorporated addresses pay the county rate plus a fire district rate. Union County revalued in 2025 |
| ZIP | 28173 (shared with Marvin and unincorporated Union County) |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; county and municipal budgets and millage schedules; district websites. Drive times are estimates; test your commute at your actual hour.
Before you buy
What most buyers get wrong about Waxhaw
"Waxhaw, NC 28173" is a mailing address, not a town boundary. The ZIP covers about 106 square miles and includes the Village of Marvin and large unincorporated areas. Inside or outside town limits changes the town tax line, police coverage (town police or the Sheriff), trash service, zoning, and who approves what gets built next door. Check the Union County tax bill or GIS for every home.
Providence Road won't be fixed soon. NC 16 is two lanes for stretches. NCDOT's widening (project U-5769) is buying right-of-way in 2026, with construction starting in 2030 and completion estimated for 2035. Don't buy on the promise of a quick fix.
Maps understate the commute. A drive that looks like 25 minutes on a map runs much longer at peak, especially to Uptown.
Rural parcels need extra checks. On outlying acreage, verify the water source, septic capacity and expansion limits, and internet service street by street, and inspect the well and septic separately.
Schools are Union County Public Schools, not CMS. Boundaries have shifted before and can again, so verify each address.
Old tax figures are still online. Some pages show the town's pre-2025 rate of $0.385. After Union County's 2025 revaluation, the town rate is $0.29.
Fit
Who is Waxhaw a good fit for?
It tends to suit
- Buyers who want more land, larger lots, or custom homes
- Commuters to Ballantyne and south Charlotte
- Buyers who want a historic, walkable main street nearby
- Buyers comparing Union County with Indian Land across the state line
Look elsewhere if
- You commute to Uptown, University City, or the airport every day
- You want a fast, predictable drive (Providence Road is the bottleneck)
- You want city water, sewer, and fiber everywhere without checking
Housing
What kinds of homes are in Waxhaw?
Historic homes walkable to downtown, 2000s and 2010s master-planned subdivisions, upper-tier custom homes on larger lots, and acreage and farm parcels in the unincorporated areas, often on well and septic. HOAs are the norm in subdivisions; acreage often has none. Townhomes are limited, and new single-family construction inside town limits has slowed sharply in recent years.
Downtown Waxhaw
Historic homes walkable to Main Street and the railroad.
Millbridge
Large amenity-led production community; check town limits by parcel.
Cureton
Mixed-use, with townhomes, single-family homes, and adjacent retail; check town limits by parcel.
Providence Downs area
Upper-tier custom homes on larger lots; check town limits by parcel.
The historic downtown and Waxhaw Historic District, the Museum of the Waxhaws, and Union County's Cane Creek Park south of town.
Shopping new construction here? Read how I represent buyers with builders before your first model home visit.
Thinking seriously about Waxhaw?
Let's make Waxhaw specific to you
Tell me what would help most and I'll send it over: homes that match, new listing alerts, the school assignment for a specific address, what the tax bill would really be, new construction options, or a side-by-side with another area.
No pressure. Just the honest version.
Waxhaw questions
How much do homes cost in Waxhaw, NC?
The median sale price was $655,000 in September 2026 and $698,500 for 2026 year to date, according to Canopy MLS. ZIP 28173's Q3 2026 median was $680,000.
Is my Waxhaw address inside the Town of Waxhaw?
Not necessarily. ZIP 28173 covers about 106 square miles, including the Village of Marvin and unincorporated Union County. Check the Union County tax bill or GIS to confirm town limits.
What are property taxes in Waxhaw?
About $0.72 per $100 of assessed value inside town limits for FY2027: Union County's $0.4342 plus the town's $0.29. Unincorporated addresses pay the county rate plus a fire district rate.
What school district serves Waxhaw?
Union County Public Schools, not Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Verify assignment for each address, since boundaries have changed before.
When will Providence Road be widened?
NCDOT's NC 16 widening (U-5769) is scheduled for right-of-way acquisition in 2026, construction starting in 2030, and estimated completion in 2035. Dates can change.
Buying in Waxhaw?
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