The Town FilesNewton, Alabama
Town in Dale County · population 1,607 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,500
- Household income
- $60,030
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 40.4
Newton is a town of 1,607 people in Dale County, Alabama. The median home is worth $89,500, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better transit than 92% of Alabama towns, hipper than 81% of Alabama towns, more upscale than 75% of Alabama towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $89,500, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $60,030, which is more affordable than 97% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $650 a month. 74.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,500 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $650 | $834 |
| Median household income | $60,030 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.0% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.7% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 17.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 86.7% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 39.8°F. About 53.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 21 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 30, 1973 about 8.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 163 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 5, 2017.
Severe weather in Dale County since 1996
Dale County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| July 10, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4554: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Dale County
Dale County had 18,260 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,321 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Public schools in Newton
3 public schools with 1,369 students, about 17.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicksburg Elementary School | PK-6 | 619 | 18.2 |
| Wicksburg High School | 7-12 | 468 | 18.0 |
| Newton Elementary School | PK-6 | 282 | 14.1 |
Towns near Newton
- Pinckard, AL3.4 mi · 582 people · home $158,900
- Midland City, AL5.9 mi · 2,239 people · home $150,400
- Daleville, AL8.1 mi · 4,866 people · home $126,000
- Ozark, AL8.3 mi · 14,368 people · home $148,900
- Grimes, AL8.6 mi · 573 people · home $105,100
- Level Plains, AL10.9 mi · 1,825 people · home $137,500
- Dothan, AL13.0 mi · 71,072 people · home $194,000
- Taylor, AL13.6 mi · 2,262 people · home $134,200
Newton questions
Is Newton, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 73% of Alabama towns and quieter than 50%. 20.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $89,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,030, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $650 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 39.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 53.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 30, 1973. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)