MetricLenoir, NCNewton, NC
Population18,29913,333
Median Household Income$49,910$62,015
Median Rent$664/mo$1,091/mo
Median Home Value$179,400$186,300
Cost of Living (US = 100)8989
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income33%42.9%
Poverty Rate14.6%12%
Unemployment Rate3.9% (county)3.7% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k345439
Property Crime Rate /100k3,0062,362
Median AQI3642
Good AQI Days /yr—239
Summer Highs86°F87°F
Winter Lows29°F33°F
Snowfall4 in/yr0 in/yr
Avg Commute24.8 min21.7 min
Hospitals1—
Avg Hospital Rating3.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher1415.9
College Degree Rate21.2%21%
Foreign-Born %7.1%9.6%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+0.1%+5.3%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.