Newton is a small town of 1,528 in Alabama, with a median household income of $64,297
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Newton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Newton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Newton city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 86.4
Newton's overall cost of living index is 86.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Newton costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Newton, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$88,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$655
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,297
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Newton's violent crime rate is 180.8 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
180.8 /100k
Property Crime
964.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Newton is served primarily by Houston County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Newton, AL
National Avg
School District
Houston County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
3
—
High Schools
6
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Newton sees average highs of 61.7°F in January
and 93.3°F in July,
with 53.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Newton's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Newton roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $88,900 and median rent is $655/month.
Newton's violent crime rate is 180.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 964.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Newton are operated by Houston County.
The district has 5 elementary, 3 middle, and 6 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 12.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Newton, AL has a population of 1,528, a median household income of $64,297, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Newton averages 61.7°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.9 inches
with about 0.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Newton, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 36352.
The population of Newton, Alabama is 1,528 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Newton: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $88,900, median household income $64,297, crime index 47 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Newton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
