The Town FilesNewton, Iowa
City in Jasper County · population 15,760 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,700
- Household income
- $57,771
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 42.6
Newton is a city of 15,760 people in Jasper County, Iowa. The median home is worth $153,700, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 96% of Iowa towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Iowa towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $153,700, close to the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $57,771, which is more affordable than 26% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $819 a month. 61.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,700 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $819 | $820 |
| Median household income | $57,771 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 61.5% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 88.5% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 28.7 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 142 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1986 about 5.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 7, 2003.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 10,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,910 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Newton
7 public schools with 2,724 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berg Middle School | 5-8 | 823 | 15.5 |
| Newton Senior High School | 9-12 | 798 | 16.3 |
| Thomas Jefferson Elementary School | PK-4 | 315 | 13.7 |
| Aurora Heights Elementary School | K-4 | 260 | 10.8 |
| Woodrow Wilson Elementary School | K-4 | 258 | 14.3 |
| Emerson Hough Elementary School | K-4 | 205 | 11.4 |
| WEST Academy Alternative School | 10-12 | 65 | 13.0 |
Towns near Newton
- Grinnell, IA16.5 mi · 9,564 people · home $209,500
- Pella, IA21.1 mi · 10,464 people · home $292,700
- Bondurant, IA21.2 mi · 7,365 people · home $318,800
- Altoona, IA22.9 mi · 19,565 people · home $274,600
- Marshalltown, IA24.4 mi · 27,591 people · home $127,700
- Pleasant Hill, IA24.9 mi · 10,147 people · home $295,100
- Carlisle, IA26.1 mi · 4,160 people · home $234,300
- Knoxville, IA26.3 mi · 7,595 people · home $160,300
Newton questions
Is Newton, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 10% of Iowa towns and quieter than 9%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $153,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,771, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $819 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 28.7 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1986. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)