The Town FilesNewton, Illinois
City in Jasper County · population 2,777 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $95,400
- Household income
- $61,761
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 44.2
Newton is a city of 2,777 people in Jasper County, Illinois. The median home is worth $95,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more vibrant than 77% of Illinois towns, more walkable than 75% of Illinois towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $95,400, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $61,761, which is more affordable than 90% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $794 a month. 77.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $95,400 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $794 | $960 |
| Median household income | $61,761 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 77.4% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 90.4% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.7°F. About 46.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 16.0 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 106 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 2, 1990 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 25, 1989.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| November 26, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4157: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 2,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,286 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in Newton
3 public schools with 1,069 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton Elem School | 1-6 | 482 | 14.6 |
| Newton Comm High School | 9-12 | 382 | 13.6 |
| Jasper Co Jr High | 7-8 | 205 | 20.5 |
Towns near Newton
- Olney, IL18.4 mi · 8,701 people · home $99,800
- Effingham, IL22.7 mi · 12,252 people · home $177,500
- Robinson, IL23.2 mi · 7,150 people · home $109,100
- Sumner, IL24.7 mi · 2,631 people · home $46,000
- Flora, IL27.8 mi · 4,803 people · home $77,300
Newton questions
Is Newton, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 49% of Illinois towns and quieter than 61%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $95,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,761, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $794 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 21.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.0 inches of precipitation a year and 16.0 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 2, 1990. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)