The Town FilesMoravia, Iowa
City in Appanoose County · population 637 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $121,700
- Household income
- $49,286
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 25 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 33.7
Moravia is a city of 637 people in Appanoose County, Iowa. The median home is worth $121,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Iowa towns.
How Moravia ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Moravia is worth $121,700, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $49,286, which is more affordable than 35% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moravia | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $700 | $820 |
| Median household income | $49,286 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Moravia
| People | Moravia | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Moravia
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 38.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 25.2 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moravia since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 7, 1984 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 9, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 23, 1961.
Severe weather in Appanoose County since 1996
Appanoose County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2019 | Flood | DR-4421: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| July 31, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4234: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Appanoose County
Appanoose County had 4,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,114 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Moravia itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Moravia
2 public schools with 376 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moravia High School | 6-12 | 216 | 14.4 |
| Moravia Elementary School | PK-5 | 160 | 11.4 |
Towns near Moravia
- Albia, IA9.4 mi · 3,721 people · home $130,300
- Centerville, IA11.5 mi · 5,412 people · home $103,000
- Moulton, IA16.1 mi · 607 people · home $81,800
- Eddyville, IA21.0 mi · 970 people · home $104,200
- Seymour, IA21.4 mi · 634 people · home $86,800
- Ottumwa, IA22.6 mi · 25,529 people · home $106,300
- Bloomfield, IA23.3 mi · 2,682 people · home $132,000
- Chariton, IA27.0 mi · 4,193 people · home $81,900
Moravia questions
Is Moravia, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moravia scores better for retirees than 38% of Iowa towns and quieter than 43%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Moravia?
The median owner-occupied home in Moravia is valued at $121,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,286, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Moravia?
July highs average 85.0°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.6 inches of precipitation a year and 25.2 inches of snow.
Does Moravia get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moravia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 7, 1984. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)