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At Moravian FallsPhoto: sdeanjameson · CC BY 2.0
≈ BHealth Grade
Health in Moravian Falls · CDC PLACES 2025

Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Moravian Falls is healthier than 96%

Moravian Falls differs from North Carolina on 3 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 1 worse.

Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Moravian Falls. How CDC estimates town health

What stands out · In brief

What stands out about health in Moravian Falls

Cancer runs high in Moravian Falls

1 in 11 adults have had cancer (9.3%), vs 7.9% across North Carolina. Conditions ↓

Moravian Falls is healthier than its income would predict

Against all U.S. towns, Moravian Falls is healthier than 63%. Against the 4,857 towns with similar household incomes ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 96%. Health Grade ↓

Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the North Carolina figure falls outside Moravian Falls’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.

Health Grade

What’s behind Moravian Falls’ grade

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Moravian Falls is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is mental distress (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 72% of towns); the weakest is diabetes, still better than 51%.

BSelf-rated health18.8% · NC 19% · U.S. 19.4%
BPhysical distress13.3% · NC 12.7% · U.S. 13%
B+Mental distress15.7% · NC 16.5% · U.S. 15.9%
B−Obesity35.9% · NC 35.1% · U.S. 32.9%
B−Diabetes12% · NC 12% · U.S. 12%
B+Smoking13% smoke · NC 13.5% · U.S. 11.8%
BExercise23.8% · NC 23.8% · U.S. 24.7%
All U.S. towns we grade (21,250)Healthier than 63%
Less healthyHealthier
U.S. towns with similar incomes, $36K–$59K (4,857)Healthier than 96%

Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Moravian Falls’ median household income is $47,548; among the 4,857 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($36K–$59K), it’s healthier than 96%, more than its income alone would suggest.

A rough placement. CDC’s likely ranges are wide here: with every estimate at one end or the other, Moravian Falls could be anywhere from C− to A. The letter shows with “≈”.

How TownRatings grades health →

Chronic conditions

Out of every 100 Moravian Falls adults…

Moravian Falls runs above NC on 1 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.

9 of every 100 Moravian Falls adults have had cancer
North Carolina: 8 in 100 · worse · likely 8.3–10.2%
Better than NCWorseAbout the sameNorth Carolina
Getting care

Care in and near Moravian Falls

No hospital or community health center in Moravian Falls itself. These are the nearest.

HNearest ERWilkes Regional Medical CenterNorth Wilkesboro · 3.8 miDirections →
★Best rated nearbyWilkes Regional Medical Center★★★★★ · 3.8 miDirections →
+Low-cost careWilkes Community Health Center (Wilkes County Health Department)Wilkesboro · 3 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
3 mi
Wilkes Community Health Center (Wilkes County Health Department)
Wilkesboro · community health center
Sliding-scale fees
3.8 mi
Wilkes Regional Medical Center
North Wilkesboro · ★★★★★
ER
22.1 mi
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital
Elkin · ★★★★★
ER
22.1 mi
Gaston Family Health Services
2 sites · nearest in Lenoir
Sliding-scale fees
Directions to nearest
23.9 mi
Caldwell Memorial Hospital
Lenoir · ★★★★★
ER
26.5 mi
Ashe Memorial Hospital
Jefferson · ★★★★★
ERRural critical access
✓ Primary careNo HRSA shortage area covers Moravian Falls itself
✓ Dental careNo HRSA shortage area covers Moravian Falls itself
✓ Mental healthNo HRSA shortage area covers Moravian Falls itself

Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Moravian Falls; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).

Habits

Everyday habits, side by side with North Carolina

Share of adults, with the North Carolina figure marked.

Get no exercise 23.8%NC 23.8%
Sleep under 7 hours 31.5%NC 34.2%
Binge drink 14.6%NC 14.7%
Smoke cigarettes 13%NC 13.5%
0%10%20%30%40%
Moravian Falls, betterMoravian Falls, worseAbout the sameNorth Carolina
Where Moravian Falls gets moving

1.8 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves

Parks & trails →
Checkups & screenings

Keeping up with care

Share of Moravian Falls adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks North Carolina.

80%Yearly checkupNC 80%
64%Dentist visitNC 64%
89%Cholesterol checkNC 88%
68%Colon screeningNC 66%
78%MammogramNC 79%
78%Taking BP medsNC 77%
1 in 8
working-age adults has no health insurance
Moravian Falls 12% · North Carolina 1 in 10 (10.4%)
Mind & connection

How Moravian Falls adults are doing

About the same as North Carolina on each measure.

1 in 3Moravian Falls adults feel lonely
32.3% · NC 32.5% · About the same as NC
1 in 5Moravian Falls adults lack social or emotional support
21.6% · NC 22.5% · About the same as NC
1 in 4Moravian Falls adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.7% · NC 24.2% · About the same as NC
1 in 6Moravian Falls adults are in frequent mental distress
15.7% · NC 16.5% · About the same as NC
The one neighbors can help with

1 in 3 Moravian Falls adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.

Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.

Find a group →

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.

Everyday needs

Making ends meet

Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.

1 in 8
Moravian Falls adults worry about having enough food
13.3% · NC 15.2%
About the same as NC
1 in 9
Moravian Falls adults worry about keeping their housing
10.7% · NC 12.2%
About the same as NC
1 in 15
Moravian Falls adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
6.6% · NC 8.1%
Better than NC
1 in 14
Moravian Falls adults lack reliable transportation
7.2% · NC 8.4%
Better than NC

9.6% of Moravian Falls adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 12.3% across North Carolina.

Around town

Moravian Falls and the towns around it

How health changes across the town line.

Wilkesboro: 35.7%Cricket: 41.7%North Wilkesboro: 38.9%Moravian Falls: 35.9%Moravian FallsWilkesboroWilkes Regional Medical Center · North Wilkesboro · 3.8 mi · 3★ MedicareHWilkes Community Health Center (Wilkes County Health Department) · Wilkesboro · 3 mi+
Healthier than NCNear NCLess healthyHHospital+Health center
Obesity
#2 of 4 towns on this map, healthiest first
Wilkesboro35.7%
Moravian Falls35.9%
NC35.1%

Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.

Health next door

TownHealthObesityDiabetesSmokingFigures from
Moravian FallsB35.9%12%13%CDC place
WilkesboroB−35.7%13.1%14.4%CDC place

Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.

Disability

Living with a disability

Shown without a better/worse judgment.

32.2%

of Moravian Falls adults live with a disability (North Carolina 32%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.

Walking or climbing stairs14.5%
Thinking or memory14.4%
Hearing8%
Errands alone7.9%
Vision5.1%
Dressing or bathing3.9%
North Carolina

Every CDC estimate for Moravian Falls

Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.

On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Moravian Falls is better than North Carolina on 2 and worse on 1; on the rest, the North Carolina figure falls inside Moravian Falls’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.

Adults who…Moravian FallsNCU.S.vs NC
Overall health
Fair or poor health18.8%15.9–21.919%19.4%About the same
Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month)13.3%11.5–15.212.7%13%About the same
Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month)15.7%13.7–17.716.5%15.9%About the same
Conditions
Obesity35.9%28.1–4435.1%32.9%About the same
Diabetes12%10.3–13.912%12%About the same
High blood pressure37.2%32.9–41.436.8%34.4%About the same
High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years)38.3%33.8–42.735.6%37.1%About the same
Arthritis28.8%25.4–32.226.9%25.3%About the same
Asthma10.4%9.1–11.710.8%9.9%About the same
Cancer, other than skin cancer9.3%8.3–10.27.9%7.9%Worse
Coronary heart disease7%6.2–7.96.6%6.4%About the same
COPD7.4%6.3–8.67.1%6.3%About the same
Stroke3.6%3.3–43.6%3.4%About the same
Lost all teeth (ages 65+)13.6%11.1–16.413.9%12.3%About the same
Habits
Smoke cigarettes13%10.7–15.613.5%11.8%About the same
No exercise outside work23.8%19.4–28.523.8%24.7%About the same
Binge drinking14.6%11.9–17.614.7%15.4%About the same
Sleep under 7 hours31.5%25.3–37.834.2%36%About the same
Checkups and coverage
No health insurance (ages 18–64)12%9.9–14.310.4%11%About the same
Checkup in the past year80.3%76.7–83.580%77.4%About the same
Dentist visit in the past year64.1%60.7–67.563.6%63.2%About the same
Cholesterol check in 5 years88.6%87–90.287.5%87.1%About the same
Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure)78.4%75.2–81.276.7%76.5%About the same
Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75)67.5%62.7–72.165.7%65.5%About the same
Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74)77.6%70.5–83.878.7%76.4%About the same
Mind and connection
Ever told they have depression24.7%21–28.524.2%20.6%About the same
Feel lonely32.3%27.3–37.832.5%32.5%About the same
Lack social and emotional support21.6%18.2–25.522.5%23.6%About the same
Everyday needs
Worried about having enough food13.3%10.9–15.715.2%15%About the same
Worried about keeping housing10.7%8.9–12.512.2%12%About the same
Threatened with a utility shut-off6.6%5.6–7.78.1%7.6%Better
Lack reliable transportation7.2%6.2–8.28.4%7.9%Better
Received SNAP (food stamps)9.6%7.9–11.512.3%11.6%Lower
Disability
Any disability32.2%27.6–3732%30.1%About the same
Difficulty walking or climbing stairs14.5%12.4–16.914.2%13.6%About the same
Difficulty concentrating or remembering14.4%12.4–16.514.8%13.9%About the same
Hearing difficulty8%7.1–9.17.3%6.7%About the same
Vision difficulty5.1%4.5–5.75.3%5.4%About the same
Difficulty doing errands alone7.9%6.8–98.2%7.9%About the same
Difficulty dressing or bathing3.9%3.4–4.34%3.8%About the same

Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the North Carolina figure falls inside that range.

Questions about health in Moravian Falls

Is Moravian Falls a healthy place to live?

On seven CDC estimates for adults, Moravian Falls is healthier than 63% of U.S. towns: ≈ B for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.

What is the obesity rate in Moravian Falls?

CDC estimates 35.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.1% and 44%, against 35.1% across North Carolina and 32.9% nationally.

What hospital is closest to Moravian Falls?

Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, 3.8 miles in a straight line from Moravian Falls’ center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.

How many people in Moravian Falls have no health insurance?

CDC estimates 12% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 9.9–14.3%), against 10.4% across North Carolina.

How accurate are these numbers?

They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Moravian Falls more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to A.

Neighbors talk health

Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Moravian Falls.

Town Square →
Ask your neighbors

Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The North Carolina figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.