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Natural hazards · Newton

Newton, MA natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Newton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is low for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 302 claims here since 1978. 13 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is Newton?

23
Low
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Newton to be higher than in 23% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding71%Hurricanes10%Earthquakes7%Everything else12%
By hazard

What Newton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

71% of expected damage
Below average · higher than 39% of U.S. places
Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Hurricanes

10% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 78% of U.S. places
Recorded about once every 6 years in the area

Earthquakes

7% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 60% of U.S. places

Lower here

Coastal floodingTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

DroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does Newton flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Newton, from FEMA’s records.

302paid claims since 1978
$2.1Mpaid to owners
47homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • March 2010 Nor'easter: 57 claims, $672K
  • Not a named storm: 51 claims, $140K
  • Hurricane Irene: 4 claims, $55K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (3) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Newton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Middlesex County.
Disasters that hit Newton

13 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Newton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Newton.

Brought FEMA money into NewtonDeclared for Middlesex County only
2018

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$883K to the City of Newton for repairs
2015

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$946K to the City of Newton for repairs
2013

Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding

$745K to the City of Newton for repairs
2011

Severe Storm and Snowstorm

$129K to the City of Newton for repairs
2011

Hurricane Irene

$126K to the City of Newton for repairs
2011

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

$448K to the City of Newton for repairs
2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

248 households applied for aid $339K aid approved $365K to the City of Newton for repairs
2008

Severe Winter Storm and Flooding

$20K to the City of Newton for repairs
2006

Severe Storms and Flooding

3 households applied for aid $2K aid approved $34K to the City of Newton for repairs
2005

Severe Storms and Flooding

2 households applied for aid $339 aid approved
2005

Record And/Or Near Record Snow

$636K to the City of Newton for repairs
2003

Snow

$779K to the City of Newton for repairs
2001

Snow

$303K to the City of Newton for repairs
Middlesex County has had 28 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.
Around Newton

Newton and the towns around it

Needham: Very low, mostly inland floodingWellesley: Low, mostly inland floodingWeston: Very low, mostly inland floodingWatertown: Low, mostly inland floodingBoston: Very low, mostly inland floodingBrookline: Very low, mostly inland floodingWaltham: Moderate, mostly inland floodingDover: Very low, mostly inland floodingDedham: Very low, mostly inland floodingWestwood: Very low, mostly inland floodingNatick: Very low, mostly inland floodingLincoln: Very low, mostly inland floodingWayland: Very low, mostly inland floodingBelmont: Low, mostly inland floodingCambridge: Low, mostly inland floodingMilton: Low, mostly inland floodingWinthrop Town: Low, mostly inland floodingRevere: Low, mostly inland floodingQuincy: Moderate, mostly inland floodingChelsea: Low, mostly inland floodingEverett: Low, mostly inland floodingHull: Very high, mostly coastal floodingLexington: Very low, mostly inland floodingNewton: Low, mostly inland flooding NewtonNeedhamWellesleyWestonWatertownBostonBrooklineWaltham
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Walthammostly inland floodingModerate
Watertownmostly inland floodingLow
Newtonmostly inland floodingLow
Wellesleymostly inland floodingLow
Westonmostly inland floodingVery low
Needhammostly inland floodingVery low
Bostonmostly inland floodingVery low
Brooklinemostly inland floodingVery low
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Newton covers 19 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Newton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Newton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Newton total about $19.7M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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