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Living in
Newton.
About
Life in Newton
Newton is a community of 13,223 people in North Carolina. The median household income is $62,015, median rent runs about $1,091 per month, and median home values are around $186,300. Unemployment is low at 3.6%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Newton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.0%
Foreign-Born
9.6%
Broadband Internet
85.5%
of households
Population Growth
+5.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.6% foreign-born, most often from Guatemala
Who lives in Newton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Newton, the largest foreign-born group is from Guatemala (27.6%), and 11.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
20.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.1%
of households
Married Couples
43.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% below NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Newton
In Newton, rent runs 11% below the NC average, and home values are 36% below the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
88.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,473
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
72.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $257,367 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Newton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Catawba County, which includes Newton, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Newton: Catawba County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Catawba County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Newton Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area
Commute21.7 min avg
How Newton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Newton, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 77% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)
Regional airport · few flights196k passengers boarded in 2025
- 35 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 33% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Newton runs 33% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
438.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,361.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Newton Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
80.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Catawba County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Catawba County, which includes Newton, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $62.3M |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $201,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $37,000 |
| 2021 | 7 | Winter Weather | $150,000 |
| 2020 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $672,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $331,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $26,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Catawba County, county-wide
Air Quality42 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Catawba County, which includes Newton, is typically good — 239 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
42
Good Days
239
per year
Moderate Days
108
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Catawba County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Newton has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
71°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.3"
Hot Days/Year
44
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
53
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°F | 31°F | 3.72" |
| Feb | 54°F | 34°F | 3.15" |
| Mar | 62°F | 41°F | 4.24" |
| Apr | 71°F | 49°F | 3.85" |
| May | 79°F | 58°F | 4.13" |
| Jun | 86°F | 65°F | 4.17" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 87°F | 67°F | 4.78" |
| Sep | 81°F | 61°F | 4.01" |
| Oct | 72°F | 50°F | 3.33" |
| Nov | 61°F | 40°F | 3.47" |
| Dec | 53°F | 34°F | 3.62" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Newton
Uninsured
9.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Newton's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Catawba Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.9 mi away · Hickory
Frye Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.8 mi away · Hickory
Atrium Health Lincoln
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.2 mi away · Lincolnton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Newton
Newton's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 21.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Newton (within 15 miles)
Catawba Valley Community College
4 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,741 students · in-state tuition $2,427 · 34% graduate · median earnings $41,272 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,359 students · in-state tuition $33,000 · 52% graduate · median earnings $54,752 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Kings Mountain National Military Park, 37 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Newton
Newton has 7 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Kings Mountain National Military Park (37 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Kings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
37 mi awayOvermountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
37 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
49 mi awayBlue Ridge Parkway
Parkway
71 mi awayCarl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
84 mi awayAndrew Johnson National Historic Site
National Historic Site
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Newton
Catawba County Library
115 W C St, Newton
Cities Near Newton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Newton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Newton FAQ
Is Newton, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Newton's median rent is $1,091/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,015/year. Median home value is $186,300.
Is Newton, North Carolina safe?⌄
Newton's violent crime rate was 439 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2362 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Newton, North Carolina?⌄
Catawba County, which includes Newton, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Newton, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Newton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,091/month and median household income is $62,015/year. The median home value is $186,300. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Newton, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Newton is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from