Newton is a city in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, Newton had a population of 13,148. It is the county seat of Catawba County. Newton is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Newton ranks

All →

#59Most affordable in NC #80Shortest commute in NC #85Lowest property tax in NC All NC rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code28658

Area code828

Living in Newton

Housing in Newton

$259K▲ 1.3% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Newton home is worth about $259,000, up 1.3% in a year, 23% below the North Carolina typical home.

A buyer's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market105

Sale-to-list94.5%

Sold in May7

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Newton

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Newton reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 81% report less. Within North Carolina, it does better than 49% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Newton 4.4

North Carolina 3.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Newton 23.5

North Carolina 18.1

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Newton

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 45% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 67% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with North Carolina

1worse than NC

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 31 are too close to call.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

12.4%More uninsured adultsNC 10.4% · worse

Care nearby

Catawba Valley Medical CenterHickory · 4 mi · ER

Kintegra Family Dentistry - HickoryHickory · 4.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Newton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Newton →

Natural hazards in Newton

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 12% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🏚️ Earthquakes

3Does Newton flood?paid flood claims since 2013 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Newton MapNewton vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Newton →

Climate in Newton

Full climate →

Newton has mild winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 29°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

52° / 31°Winter

71° / 46°Spring

87° / 66°Summer

71° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Newton get?About 6 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 8, with the last in spring around Mar 24.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Newton →

Schools in Newton

All Newton schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Newton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 65% of North Carolina’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#84Best public schoolsof 252 in NC

DistrictNewton Conover City SchoolsSchools5

Startown Elementary B+Elementary · Grades PK–6 · 540 students North Newton Elementary B-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 388 students South Newton Elementary CElementary · Grades PK–5 · 328 students Newton-Conover High B+High · Grades 9–12 · 724 students Discovery High School A+High · Grades 9–12 · 146 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NC. Ratings are from neighbors.