The Town FilesNewton, Mississippi
City in Newton County · population 3,195 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $88,800
- Household income
- $32,157
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 43.3
Newton is a city of 3,195 people in Newton County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $88,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more vibrant than 82% of Mississippi towns, more walkable than 76% of Mississippi towns, hipper than 73% of Mississippi towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $88,800, below the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $32,157, which is more affordable than 56% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $423 a month. 60.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $88,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $423 | $820 |
| Median household income | $32,157 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 60.2% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.4% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 1.4% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.3% | 83.3% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 58.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 64 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on November 22, 1992 about 7.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 6, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 31, 2018.
Severe weather in Newton County since 1996
Newton County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Newton County
Newton County had 5,127 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,490 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Public schools in Newton
4 public schools with 816 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEWTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 383 | 12.4 |
| NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 238 | 7.9 |
| N H PILATE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 195 | 10.3 |
| NEWTON MUNICIPAL CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Newton
- Forest, MS19.3 mi · 5,430 people · home $141,100
- Meridian, MS27.0 mi · 35,052 people · home $107,900
- Morton, MS29.9 mi · 3,711 people · home $84,200
Newton questions
Is Newton, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 36% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 63%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $88,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,157, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $423 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on November 22, 1992. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)