What are the schools like in Newton, NC?

Newton is served primarily by Catawba County Schools. The district operates 16 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.4:1.

What is the median household income in Newton?

The median household income in Newton, NC is $57,918 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Newton, NC?

Newton has an average high temperature of 50.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.3 inches.

Newton, NC Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Newton, NC affordable or expensive?

Newton's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Newton is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $146,700 and the median rent is $923 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Newton, NC?

Newton has a violent crime rate of 400.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1906.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Newton, NC a Good Place to Live?

Newton is a small city of 13,173 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $57,918 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Newton stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, 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: 89.2

Newton's overall cost of living index is 89.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Newton costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Newton, NC	National Avg
Median Home Value	$146,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$923	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,918	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Newton's violent crime rate is 400.6 per 100,000 residents — 5% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

400.6 /100k

Property Crime

1906.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Newton is served primarily by Catawba County Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Newton, NC	National Avg
School District	Catawba County Schools	—
Elementary Schools	16	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Newton sees average highs of 50.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July, with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Newton, NC
Average High — January	50.3°F
Average High — July	88.7°F
Annual Precipitation	46.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.3"

Demographics

Metric	Newton, NC	National Avg
Population	13,173	—
Median Age	43.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	70.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	8.3%	18.9%
Asian	4.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.7%	22.2%
65 and over	21.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Conover, NC 4 mi Claremont, NC 5 mi Maiden, NC 6 mi Brookford, NC 7 mi Hickory, NC 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Newton

Newton, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28658

Newton vs Other Cities

Newton, NC vs Conover, NC Newton, NC vs Claremont, NC Newton, NC vs Maiden, NC Newton, NC vs Brookford, NC Newton, NC vs Hickory, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Newton, NC affordable or expensive?

Newton's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Newton roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $146,700 and median rent is $923/month.

What is the crime rate in Newton, NC?

Newton's violent crime rate is 400.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1906.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Newton?

Public schools in Newton are operated by Catawba County Schools. The district has 16 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.4:1. 20.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Newton, NC a good place to live?

Newton, NC has a population of 13,173, a median household income of $57,918, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Newton?

Newton averages 50.3°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.6 inches with about 0.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Newton?

Newton, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28658.

What is the population of Newton?

The population of Newton, North Carolina is 13,173 with a median age of 43.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Newton?

Key numbers for living in Newton: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $146,700, median household income $57,918, crime index 100 (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.