The best of Moravian Falls’ subject grades are a B+ for the outdoors and schools; the weakest is a C− for walkability. Moravian Falls’ median age is 49.8 years, against 40.1 years in North Carolina’s towns and 40.5 years across U.S. towns. Only 8 of the 291 North Carolina towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Moravian Falls. Benjamin Hubbard House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Moravian Falls has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

WeakestC⁻Walkability

What makes Moravian Falls stand out

Where Moravian Falls beats most towns.

1historic places

History

Settled in 1873

1 place on the National Register

A history going back 153 years.

Small town

1,285 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns

Wilkesboro · 2 mi North Wilkesboro · 5 mi Taylorsville · 13 mi Love Valley · 14 mi Ronda · 16 mi Cedar Rock · 19 mi

WilkesboroMoravian Falls

How Moravian Falls grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within North Carolina), ordered by how far Moravian Falls is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.3 of 20; 0% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC⁻Open →SchoolsB⁺Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listCOpen →HealthWilkes Regional Medical Center 3.8 miles awayBOpen →Cost of livingC⁺Open →Jobs & income317 jobs based hereC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landB⁺Open →History1 place on the National Register; 1 notable person born hereC⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Untitled photo, 2008

Moravian Falls’s story

153 years in pictures

The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2008.

1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.

1873Moravian Falls is settled

Explore the history →

Getting set up

Moving to Moravian Falls: who provides what

Moravian Falls is unincorporated, so Wilkes County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerEnergyUnited Elec Member11.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterMoravian Falls Water System1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & county servicesWilkes CountyWilkes County provides services here

SchoolsWilkes County SchoolsWhich school depends on your addressNCES

Register to voteOnlineIn North Carolina you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person with same-day registration during the early voting period, or by mail (postmarked 25 days before).vote.gov

Who runs elections hereWilkes County Board of ElectionsWilkes County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, May 2019

ZIP codes28697, 2865428697 51% · 28654 49%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Moravian Falls.

SchoolsB⁺

Moravian Falls’ public schools outperform 67% of North Carolina districts

Its public schools are run by the Wilkes County Schools. Its three schools are below. The largest public high school is Wilkes Central High School, with 719 students.

67%of NC districts it outscoresB⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
Central Wilkes Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8	Grades 6–8	564	B⁻
Wilkes Central High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	719	B
Moravian Falls Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades PK–5	Grades PK–5	257	A

Full pageMoravian Falls’ schools pageOpen the page

The districtsWilkes County Schools Vs. the neighborsBehind its graded neighbor Every school3 schools · Wilkes Central High School Questions“Are Moravian Falls’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within NC on state tests and graduation

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁺

Most of Moravian Falls’ workers commute out: the town has 0.5 jobs for each of them

Most working residents leave Moravian Falls for work: only 2% work in town. 5.4% of Moravian Falls residents live below the poverty line, where North Carolina’s towns sit at 13% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. The median household income in Moravian Falls is $48,000.

2%work in town

	Moravian Falls	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Below the poverty line	5.4%	13%	9.6%
Median household income	$48,000	$69,000	$80,000
Working residents who work in town	1.6%	6.8%	8%
Average trip to work	22 minutes	24 minutes	25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Moravian Falls2%

Wilkesboro31%

North Wilkesboro9%

Winston-Salem7%

Charlotte4%

17 mi

median commute distance

317

jobs based in Moravian Falls

A commuter town

jobs vs. working residents

C−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 16% of U.S. towns

Full pageMoravian Falls’ work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here317 jobs based here · A commuter town Where people work2% work in Moravian Falls Commute times22 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 17 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HousingCost of living grade C⁺

The typical home in Moravian Falls is valued at about $235K

The typical Moravian Falls home is worth about $235,000, up 5.2% in a year, 29% below the North Carolina typical home. 53% of Moravian Falls households own their home.

$235KZillow home value

Typical home value

Moravian Falls$235K

North Carolina$332K

+5.2%

value change, 1 year

homes sold in March

Full pageMoravian Falls’ housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 5.2% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.9 years of income Rents$700 a month · Median rent Vs. the neighborsAhead of its graded neighbor

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Climate

Four seasons and pleasant summers in Moravian Falls

Moravian Falls has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 87°, January nights drop to 28° and about 8 inches of snow falls in a winter.

8″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter30–51°

Spring45–70°

Summer64–86°

Fall47–71°

Nov 1

typical first frost

Apr 7

typical last frost

+1.0°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageMoravian Falls’ climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 87°, January lows 28°Rain & snow8″ of snow a winter · 49 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.0° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

HealthB

Moravian Falls is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns

Moravian Falls beats the North Carolina average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 32% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Moravian Falls.

63%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade

	Moravian Falls	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)	32%	34%	36%
Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES)	16%	17%	17%
No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES)	12%	10%	8.1%
Binge drink (CDC PLACES)	15%	15%	16%

32 measures vs. North Carolina

2 better29 too close to call1 worse

What stands out	Moravian Falls	NC
Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off	6.6%	8.1%
Fewer adults without reliable transportation	7.2%	8.4%
More adults who have had cancer	9.3%	7.9%

Wilkes Regional Medical Center

3.8 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

Full pageMoravian Falls’ health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsFewer adults sleeping under 7 hours Hospitals & doctors nearby3.8 miles to an ER · Wilkes Regional Medical Center How adults are doingFewer adults in frequent mental distress Every CDC estimateBetter than NC on 2 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C

Moderate risk in Moravian Falls, with inland flooding at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities.

57risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageMoravian Falls’ hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesModerate risk Flood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on record Past disasters2 federal disasters · Paid out in Moravian Falls Get ready1.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

OutdoorsB⁺

4.1% of Moravian Falls is conserved land

1.8 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves.

4.1%conserved

	Moravian Falls	North Carolina towns	U.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile	0.4 miles per square mile	0.2	0.4
Conserved land	4.1%	3.4%	4.3%

4.1%

conserved · 134 of 3,270 acres

1.8 mi

of trails · 0.4 per sq mi

Full pageMoravian Falls’ outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map1.8 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walkPick a walk Conserved land4.1% conserved · 134 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Moravian Falls?”

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Moravian Falls

18pages on Moravian Falls

The big questions

SchoolsB⁺Beat 67% of NC districts · 3 schools HealthBBetter than NC on 2 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingC⁺$235K typical home · up 5.2% in a year Work & commuteC⁺$48K median household income · 317 jobs here Natural hazardsCFEMA risk higher than 57% of U.S. communities · inland flooding

Out and about

OutdoorsB⁺2 mi of trails · 4% conserved land PlacesAttractions30 nearby · Blue Ridge Parkway 16 mi LibraryWilkes County Library CollegesWilkes Community College is 1.9 mi away

The story

HistoryC⁻Settled 1873 · 1 on the National Register Famous people1 born in Moravian Falls Climate87° summer highs · 8″ of snow

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 28654 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Moravian Falls

Wilkes Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Wilkesboro1.9 mi$2,572 in-state tuition

About 1 of every 100 Moravian Falls residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across North Carolina.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

98% of working residents leave Moravian Falls for work

Where Moravian Falls’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

317jobs based in Moravian Falls

2%of working residents work in town

17 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Moravian Falls

CDP in North Carolina, United States

Moravian Falls (formerly, Petersburg and Forks of the Road) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,712 as of the 2020 census.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area: 5.0 sq mi
Elevation: 1,194 ft
ZIP code: 28654

Questions about Moravian Falls

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Moravian Falls, NC expensive?

That is 4.5 years of the area's median household income ($51,721 across the North Wilkesboro, NC area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.

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