The Town FilesMoravian Falls, North Carolina
Community in Wilkes County · population 1,712 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,800
- Household income
- $47,548
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 49.8
Moravian Falls is a community of 1,712 people in Wilkes County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $218,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 93% of North Carolina towns, better for retirees than 85% of North Carolina towns, quieter than 79% of North Carolina towns.
How Moravian Falls ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Moravian Falls is worth $218,800, close to the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $47,548, which is more affordable than 24% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 53.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Moravian Falls | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,800 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $700 | $969 |
| Median household income | $47,548 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 53.0% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Moravian Falls
| People | Moravian Falls | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.8 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.6% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 14.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 18.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.5% |
Weather in Moravian Falls
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.1°F. About 52.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.6 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 33 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 98 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moravian Falls since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 11, 2024 about 1.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 1 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 11, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 21, 2018.
Severe weather in Wilkes County since 1996
Wilkes County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Wilkes County
Wilkes County had 18,933 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,003 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Moravian Falls itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Moravian Falls
2 public schools with 819 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Wilkes Middle School | 6-8 | 569 | 16.3 |
| Moravian Falls Elementary School | PK-5 | 250 | 16.7 |
Towns near Moravian Falls
- Wilkesboro, NC2.4 mi · 3,687 people · home $223,700
- Cricket, NC4.2 mi · 1,966 people · home $140,600
- North Wilkesboro, NC5.2 mi · 4,382 people · home $212,700
- Fairplains, NC6.1 mi · 2,029 people · home $140,200
- Millers Creek, NC6.3 mi · 1,931 people · home $227,200
- Mulberry, NC8.2 mi · 2,275 people · home $172,400
- Hays, NC10.4 mi · 1,595 people · home $183,800
- Taylorsville, NC13.3 mi · 2,320 people · home $237,300
Moravian Falls questions
Is Moravian Falls, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Moravian Falls scores better for retirees than 85% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 79%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.8).
How much does a house cost in Moravian Falls?
The median owner-occupied home in Moravian Falls is valued at $218,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,548, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Moravian Falls?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 27.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 52.5 inches of precipitation a year and 7.6 inches of snow.
Does Moravian Falls get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Moravian Falls since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 11, 2024. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)