The Town FilesFalling Waters, West Virginia
Community in Berkeley County · population 1,440 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,900
- Household income
- $88,466
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 32.6
Falling Waters is a community of 1,440 people in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The median home is worth $212,900, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of West Virginia towns, more vibrant than 88% of West Virginia towns, more of a college town than 74% of West Virginia towns.
How Falling Waters ranks
Percentile among West Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of West Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Falling Waters is worth $212,900, above the typical West Virginia town ($125,000). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $88,466, which is more affordable than 57% of West Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,320 a month. 57.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Falling Waters | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,900 | $125,000 |
| Median rent | $1,320 | $811 |
| Median household income | $88,466 | $52,093 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.5× |
| Homeownership | 57.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Falling Waters
| People | Falling Waters | Typical West Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.6 | 43.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.9% | 21.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 18.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.3% | 18.6% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 6.6% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 86.7% |
Weather in Falling Waters
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 22.9°F. About 41.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Falling Waters since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical West Virginia town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 8, 2014 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on August 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Berkeley County since 1996
Berkeley County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3639: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4517: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3450: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3358: Hurricane Sandy |
| July 23, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4071: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
Jobs and pay in Berkeley County
Berkeley County had 38,427 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,976 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Falling Waters itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Public schools in Falling Waters
1 public school with 283 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlowe Elementary School | PK-2 | 283 | 14.9 |
Towns near Falling Waters
- Williamsport, MD4.4 mi · 2,083 people · home $227,900
- Wilson-Conococheague, MD6.8 mi · 2,262 people · home $224,600
- Halfway, MD7.2 mi · 11,896 people · home $253,300
- St. James, MD7.5 mi · 4,757 people · home $409,000
- Fairplay, MD7.8 mi · 537 people · home $296,800
- Martinsburg, WV8.8 mi · 18,777 people · home $240,000
- Shepherdstown, WV10.1 mi · 1,531 people · home $485,200
- Hagerstown, MD10.1 mi · 43,527 people · home $224,500
Falling Waters questions
Is Falling Waters, West Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Falling Waters scores better for retirees than 3% of West Virginia towns and quieter than 8%. 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.6).
How much does a house cost in Falling Waters?
The median owner-occupied home in Falling Waters is valued at $212,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,466, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $1,320 a month.
What is the weather like in Falling Waters?
July highs average 87.2°F and January lows 22.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Falling Waters get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Falling Waters since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 8, 2014. The typical West Virginia town has had 5.
- 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)