MetricNewton, NCLenoir, NC
Population13,33318,299
Median Household Income$62,015$49,910
Median Rent$1,091/mo$664/mo
Median Home Value$186,300$179,400
Cost of Living (US = 100)8989
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income42.9%33%
Poverty Rate12%14.6%
Unemployment Rate3.7% (county)3.9% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k439345
Property Crime Rate /100k2,3623,006
Median AQI4236
Good AQI Days /yr239—
Summer Highs87°F86°F
Winter Lows33°F29°F
Snowfall0 in/yr4 in/yr
Avg Commute21.7 min24.8 min
Hospitals—1
Avg Hospital Rating—3.0 / 5
Students per Teacher15.914
College Degree Rate21%21.2%
Foreign-Born %9.6%7.1%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+5.3%+0.1%

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