Is Newton, KS a Good Place to Live?
Newton is a small city of 18,527 in Kansas, with a median household income of $66,528 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.
Strengths: Newton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 89.5Newton's overall cost of living index is 89.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Newton costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Newton, KS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $137,600 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $876 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $66,528 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageNewton's violent crime rate is 617.2 per 100,000 residents — 62% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Newton is served primarily by Newton. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Newton, KS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Newton | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Newton sees average highs of 41.7°F in January and 92.0°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 8.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Newton, KS |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 41.7°F |
| Average High — July | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | Newton, KS | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,527 | — |
| Median Age | 40.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 20.1 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 80.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 12.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.2% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 18.2% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Newton
Newton, KS is covered by 1 ZIP code: