Quiet village charm and natural beauty in Moravia
Moravia, 19 miles southeast of Auburn, is a Cayuga County town centered around the village of the same name. "I would definitely say it's a welcoming small town," says Amber Wade, village treasurer. "Pretty much everybody knows everybody." The outskirts of town are primarily rural, but the village is walkable with single-family homes and mom-and-pop businesses. "Grocery store, dollar store, pharmacy, eateries, a gas station," Wade says. "A lot of businesses that have been there for years are still here." The town also offers easy access to Finger Lakes hotspots, like Owasco Lake and Fillmore Glen State Park. "As long as you're not needing city life, you pretty much don't need to leave," Wade says.
Early 20th-century village homes and country homes with acreage
Most single-family homes on the market are set in the village along narrow, sidewalk-lined streets. "They're semi-close together," Wade says. "They're not city-style, but you're not getting a lot of acreage within the village." These early 20th-century homes are diverse, but farmhouses and Victorian-inspired designs are typical; many have rustic features like covered porches, board-and-batten shutters and detached barn house garages. Prices range from about $70,000 to almost $300,000. Farther from the village, farmhouses and ranch-style homes along country roads have spacious, wooded lots and range from about $250,000 to $500,000. There are also a handful of waterfront homes along Owasco Lake with features like decks and private docks with prices that range from about $400,000 to $650,000.
Academic and athletic opportunities at Moravia High
Moravia is part of the Moravia Central School District, rated B-minus overall by Niche. Kids in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade can attend Millard Fillmore Elementary before moving to Moravia Junior/Senior High for seventh through 12th grade. Both are rated C-plus. Home of the Blue Devils, Moravia Senior High's boys' basketball team won the 2024 New York State Championship. The school is also part of the Cayuga Advantage Program, which allows juniors and seniors to take concurrent enrollment courses for credit at Cayuga Community College at no additional cost.
Exploring nature in Fillmore Glen State Park and the Owasco Flats
Moravia is mostly woodland and farmland, but a few planned green spaces are dotted throughout, including pocket-sized Ethel Fuller Park. "There's a playground, a basketball court, and if you wanted to have a picnic, there are some tables," Wade says. Nearby, the 950-acre Fillmore Glen State Park offers over 5 miles of tree-lined hiking trails, several of which run along Dry Creek. The Waterfall Loop Trail leads past falls and a stream-fed swimming area. The Owasco Flats are another scenic escape, where kayakers can follow the Owasco Inlet to Owasco Lake. There's bass fishing in the inlet, too, and native birds include yellow-bellied sapsuckers and chimney swifts.
Farm-fresh groceries and American comfort fare in the village
The village streets are lined with locally owned shops and restaurants, many with early 20th-century, red-brick storefronts. Modern Market stocks grocery basics, Owasco Meats provides fresh butcher cuts and Hillcrest Dairy has products straight from Ripley Family Farm. There are also a few chains in town, including Dollar General, Kinney Drugs and a Dunkin'. "We have pretty much everything, unless you want to go to a bigger store for a little bit cheaper," Wade says. Giuseppe's Pizzeria offers New York-style slices, hot subs and chocolate chip cannoli. Rowan's Bar & Grill serves elevated pub fare for dinner, like the Hawaiian Burger with grilled pineapple, gouda and peach habanero barbecue sauce.
Fillmore Days, vintage cars and reindeer games
Moravia has several annual traditions that attract visitors from all over Cayuga County. In August, Fillmore Days celebrates the 13th president, Millard Fillmore, at Fillmore Glen State Park. The festivities include a pie-eating contest, a rubber duckie scavenger hunt and the beloved bathtub races. "You decorate a bathtub at the park and race it down the parkway — the fastest time wins," Wade says. Also in August, the Filmore Auto Show & Flea Market brings hundreds of vintage cars and vendors to town. "We also have a 'Christmas in Moravia' event," Wade says. The multi-day celebration features a tree-lighting ceremony, a Christmas market and the Reindeer Fun Run, where runners don festive costumes to get into the holiday spirit.
Sidewalk-lined Main Street and easy access to Auburn
The village is walkable with sidewalk-lined thoroughfares, including Main Street. "Everything is accessible," Wade says. "If you park in one spot, you can walk anywhere within the village. Outside of the village, the town is car-dependent. State Route 38A passes through Moravia, providing a direct route to Auburn. Guthrie Cortland Medical Center is 17 miles away, and Ithaca Tompkins International Airport is an 18-mile drive.
