What is the cost of living in Newton, NC?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Newton has an overall cost of living index of 91, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to North Carolina, Newton has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than North Carolina's index of 95.
The standard of living in Newton ranks as #29 most affordable out of the 159 places we measured in North Carolina. By definition, that implies Newton ranks as the #130 most expensive place in the Tar Heel State.
For more reading on life in Newton, check out:
Newton Cost Of Living Vs. North Carolina
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Newton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Newton is 97.
The Groceries index in Newton is 104.
The Health index in Newton is 72.
The Housing index in Newton is 97.
The Transportation index in Newton is 99.
The Utilities index in Newton is 98.
| Living Expense | Newton | North Carolina | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 95 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 98 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 98 | 100 |
| Health | 72 | 89 | 100 |
| Housing | 97 | 100 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 97 | 100 |
| Utilities | 98 | 101 | 100 |
Newton Cost Of Living Compared To North Carolina Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around North Carolina, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In North Carolina
- Most Affordable Cities In North Carolina
- Average Rent In North Carolina
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Newton, NC Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in North Carolina, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Newton is $256,468.
The Median Rent in Newton is $1,091.
The Median Income in Newton is $62,015.
The Home Value To Income in Newton is 4.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Newton is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Newton | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $256,468 | $336,407 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,091 | $1,228 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $62,015 | $72,388 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 4.1x | 4.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Newton, NC Costs By Category
Detailed Newton Services costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Newton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.27 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.55 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $21.67 | $18 |
| Haircut | $18.25 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $59.75 | $45.56 |
Detailed Newton Groceries costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Newton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.27 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.39 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.61 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.98 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.47 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.81 | $3.7 |
Detailed Newton Health costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Newton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $143.74 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $148.29 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $115.52 | $113.29 |
Detailed Newton Transportation costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Newton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.29 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $53.32 | $59.92 |
Detailed Newton Utilities costs vs. North Carolina
| Item | Newton | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $167.89 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $189.9 | $192.25 |
Newton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Newton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Newton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Hickory, NC has a cost of living index of 100, 1.1x Newton.
Lincolnton, NC has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Newton.
Lake Norman of Catawba, NC has a cost of living index of 130, 1.4x Newton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NC | 44,258 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Lincolnton, NC | 11,783 | 96 | 1.1x |
| Lake Norman of Catawba, NC | 9,906 | 130 | 1.4x |
| St. Stephens, NC | 9,457 | 93 | 1.0x |
| Conover, NC | 8,580 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Sawmills, NC | 5,042 | 89 | 1.0x |
