1st Advantage MortgageThe median Newton County household earns $50,540, and 25% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Mississippi before sharing details.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Newton County
- Paychecks and income spread in Newton County
- Newton County housing compared with Mississippi
- Work, industries and travel time in Newton County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Newton County
- Room for a loan payment in Newton County
- Who lives in Newton County, in numbers
- Reading the Newton County data as a borrower
- Steps before you apply in Newton County
- Mississippi rules that apply in Newton County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Newton County
Roughly 21,093 residents live in Newton County, Mississippi, 44th by population among the state's 82 counties and county equivalents. It covers 578 square miles of land, or about 37 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Newton County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Newton County, Newton leads by population with about 3,116; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Newton County
Half of Newton County households take in less than $50,540 a year and half take in more, 10% below the Mississippi median of $56,447. In the state ranking that is 39th of 82.
| Band | Newton County | Compared with Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.0% | +1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.3% | +3.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -3.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.2% | -1.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 22% of Newton County households make $100,000 or more, and 34% make less than $35,000. 24.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.495 here. None of these numbers decides a Newton County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Newton County housing compared with Mississippi
Renters in Newton County pay a median of $638 a month, 33% below the Mississippi figure of $954. 32% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $106,300, a typical Newton County house costs 2.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 79%. Median construction year: 1982.
| Newton County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $638/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $106,300 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 32% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 26% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.2% | 14.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 15% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Work, industries and travel time in Newton County
Education and health care employs 27% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 22%. Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (22% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 5.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Newton County share | +/- vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.8% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 21.8% | +8.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 5.2% | +3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.0% | -2.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Neshoba County is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Smith County, is 34 miles off. Income ranges from $48,660 in Jasper County to $60,916 in Smith County; 4 of these neighbors top Newton County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton County | - | $50,540 | $638/mo | 79% |
| Neshoba County, MS | 24 mi | $57,013 | $839/mo | 78% |
| Scott County, MS | 24 mi | $48,786 | $888/mo | 71% |
| Jasper County, MS | 27 mi | $48,660 | $724/mo | 82% |
| Lauderdale County, MS | 27 mi | $50,817 | $953/mo | 65% |
| Leake County, MS | 34 mi | $50,728 | $765/mo | 77% |
| Smith County, MS | 34 mi | $60,916 | $664/mo | 87% |
Towns and communities in Newton County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 45% of Newton County residents live in one of the 7. Incomes vary by place: $50,128 at the median in Decatur, $32,143 in Lake. Live in one of these Newton County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton | city | 3,116 | $32,157 | $423 | 5 mi |
| Union | town | 2,090 | $44,643 | $715 | 12 mi |
| Decatur | town | 1,929 | $50,128 | $835 | 2 mi |
| Conehatta | CDP | 1,166 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Lake | town | 522 | $32,143 | $729 | 12 mi |
| Hickory | town | 471 | $59,000 | $918 | 8 mi |
| Chunky | town | 242 | $57,500 | $1,150 | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Room for a loan payment in Newton County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Newton County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,212 before taxes
- Less median rent of $638, which is 15% of it
- $878: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 43% cap, $1,811 total minus rent leaves $1,173
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Newton County, in numbers
19% of Newton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 12.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Newton County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 19.3% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.2% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 12.2% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.0% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.7% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 33.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Reading the Newton County data as a borrower
Based on the Newton County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Uninsured care. 12% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 24% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 25% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
Steps before you apply in Newton County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Newton County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Mississippi license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Mississippi rules that apply in Newton County
Newton County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Mississippi guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Mississippi guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Newton County earn?
The median is $50,540; 22% earn $100,000 or more and 34% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Newton County rent compare with Mississippi?
$638 locally versus $954 for the state, 33% below.
What are the biggest places in Newton County?
By population: Newton, Union, Decatur, Conehatta, Lake. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Newton County or elsewhere in Mississippi, the same rules apply.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Newton County?
Start with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.