Newton, KS — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

Harvey County · Wichita · population 18,320

AffordabilitySmall-town feel
View watchlist →
71
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Newton stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 4.0% in the last year. rents up 21.0% in the last year.

Median home $173,504
1-year +4.0%
5-yr CAGR +6.8%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population -0.4%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$174k$91k$121k$151k$180k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
78/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$959/mo$745$881$1,0172026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent1031171001202026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 15.1
Lean buy

At a 15.1 price-to-rent ratio, Newton is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
70 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
73 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
39 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
67 · w10%
Long thesis

Newton offers a $173,504 median home with +6.8% annualized 5-year appreciation. Affordability + positive trend is one of the better risk/reward setups in US residential — small downside, room to compound.

Short thesis

Newton's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Newton

Newton is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, with an estimated population of 18,320. It anchors the Wichita metro area. The median home value in Newton is $173,504 as of 2026-04, up 4.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.8% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Newton average $959 per month, up 21.0% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 71 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Affordable AND rising: median home $173,504 with positive recent direction — rare combination most of the country can’t offer.
Healthy 5-year run: +6.8% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
Quiet strength: +4.0% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
Hot rental market: rents up 21.0% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

Bear case

Flat or shrinking population: -0.4% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
Rental squeeze: rents up 21.0% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Harvey County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Harvey County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Newton

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
41° / 21°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
89° / 66°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
230
~63% of year
Annual precip
30″ rain
15″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very high
Wildfire
Low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Newton listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Wichita area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$69,700
Kansas state median
Top industries (state-level)
Aerospace (Wichita)AgricultureHealthcare

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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