MetricNewton, NCShelby, NC
Population13,33322,100
Median Household Income$62,015$48,376
Median Rent$1,091/mo$945/mo
Median Home Value$186,300$197,200
Cost of Living (US = 100)89—
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income42.9%47.2%
Poverty Rate12%17.6%
Unemployment Rate3.7% (county)4.4% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k439879
Property Crime Rate /100k2,3622,462
Median AQI42—
Good AQI Days /yr239—
Summer Highs87°F89°F
Winter Lows33°F29°F
Snowfall0 in/yr4 in/yr
Avg Commute21.7 min20.2 min
Hospitals—1
Avg Hospital Rating—3.0 / 5
Students per Teacher15.916.8
College Degree Rate21%26.6%
Foreign-Born %9.6%2.3%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+5.3%+6.5%

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