The Town FilesNewton, New Jersey
Town in Sussex County · population 8,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $302,700
- Household income
- $76,221
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.5
Newton is a town of 8,374 people in Sussex County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $302,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks hipper than 87% of New Jersey towns, more of a college town than 82% of New Jersey towns, more vibrant than 80% of New Jersey towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $302,700, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $76,221, which is more affordable than 43% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,442 a month. 59.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $302,700 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,442 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $76,221 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.3% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 2.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 94.6% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 48.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.9 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 20, 1981 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 6, 1998.
Severe weather in Sussex County since 1996
Sussex County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| April 28, 2021 | Snowstorm | DR-4597: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Sussex County
Sussex County had 38,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,693 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in Newton
9 public schools with 3,362 students, about 10.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kittatinny Regional High School | 7-12 | 752 | 9.8 |
| Newton High School | 9-12 | 723 | 12.1 |
| Merriam Avenue School | PK-4 | 524 | 11.4 |
| Marian E. McKeown Elementary School | PK-6 | 314 | 8.7 |
| Halsted Middle School | 5-8 | 296 | 8.5 |
| Florence M. Burd | PK-4 | 255 | 9.1 |
| Long Pond School | 5-8 | 193 | 8.0 |
| Fredon Township School | PK-6 | 186 | 10.3 |
| Frelinghuysen Township Elementary School | PK-6 | 119 | 10.8 |
Towns near Newton
- Andover, NJ2.3 mi · 5,996 people · home $413,000
- Hampton, NJ3.4 mi · 4,893 people · home $336,700
- Fredon, NJ3.8 mi · 3,235 people · home $457,600
- Lake Mohawk, NJ5.0 mi · 9,759 people · home $441,700
- Green, NJ5.9 mi · 3,627 people · home $472,200
- Stillwater, NJ6.2 mi · 4,004 people · home $343,100
- Sparta, NJ6.5 mi · 19,600 people · home $484,200
- Byram, NJ6.6 mi · 8,028 people · home $389,900
Newton questions
Is Newton, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 57% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 27%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $302,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,221, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $1,442 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 83.6°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 31.9 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 20, 1981. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)