The Town FilesNewton, North Carolina
City in Catawba County · population 13,148 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,300
- Household income
- $62,015
- Jan low / Jul high
- 31° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 3 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 38.2
Newton is a city of 13,148 people in Catawba County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $186,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks better transit than 90% of North Carolina towns, more walkable than 88% of North Carolina towns, more vibrant than 85% of North Carolina towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $186,300, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $62,015, which is more affordable than 80% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,091 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,300 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,091 | $969 |
| Median household income | $62,015 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 89.5% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 3.3 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 53 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 26, 2010 about 5.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on January 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 90 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 3, 1998.
Severe weather in Catawba County since 1996
Catawba County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Catawba County
Catawba County had 89,388 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,761 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Newton
9 public schools with 4,745 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred T Foard High | 9-12 | 956 | 18.0 |
| Newton-Conover High | 9-12 | 749 | 16.3 |
| Balls Creek Elementary | PK-6 | 698 | 14.9 |
| Startown Elementary | PK-6 | 534 | 15.3 |
| Blackburn Elementary | K-6 | 488 | 15.7 |
| Jacobs Fork Middle | 7-8 | 443 | 15.8 |
| North Newton Elementary | K-5 | 389 | 13.9 |
| South Newton Elementary | PK-5 | 326 | 15.5 |
| Discovery High School | 9-12 | 162 | 27.0 |
Towns near Newton
- Conover, NC3.8 mi · 8,421 people · home $271,300
- Maiden, NC4.9 mi · 3,736 people · home $233,800
- Claremont, NC5.4 mi · 1,692 people · home $255,300
- Hickory, NC7.3 mi · 43,490 people · home $278,400
- St. Stephens, NC7.4 mi · 8,852 people · home $213,300
- Mountain View, NC7.8 mi · 3,590 people · home $222,500
- Long View, NC9.6 mi · 5,088 people · home $157,300
- Catawba, NC9.7 mi · 702 people · home $163,000
Newton questions
Is Newton, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 42% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 60%. 20.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $186,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,015, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,091 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 31.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 3.3 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 26, 2010. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)