Real Estate Investing in Newton, North Carolina (28658)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Catawba County • Population: 25,681 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28658 (Newton, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Newton, NC (28658)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $259,151
Avg Monthly Rent $1,487
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,265
% Renters 27.0%

Market Analysis: 28658 Newton

ZIP 28658 in Newton, NC carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $259K and rents of $1,487/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 28658 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Turning to rents, 28658 offers a low basis, the region around Newton has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 28658 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 28658, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Newton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,487/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.2%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28658

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$87,632/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $126,546 $990 5.6% +11.2% $126,546
2BR $178,913 $1,200 4.8% +10.4% $89,457
3BR $262,897 $1,500 4.1% +8.9% $87,632
4BR $374,262 $1,820 3.5% +8.7% $93,566
5BR $502,002 +8.9% $100,400

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$275K$237K$200K$162K$125K$87KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,627$1,578$1,528$1,479$1,430$1,380Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28658 Compare?

Metric 28658 Newton Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC North Carolina
Home Value $259,151 $259,151 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,487 $1,487 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28658? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28658 (Newton, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $259,151
Monthly Rent $1,487
Price-to-Rent 14.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 11.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28658

Population: 25,681

💰 Median Household Income
$62,265
This area
$62,265
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.0%
This area
27.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.4%
Other/Mixed 12.7%
Hispanic/Latino 8.7%
Black/African American 8.6%
Asian 3.3%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 28658

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$12,541 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Balls Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
698 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,509 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Newton Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Newton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B Good

Blackburn Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,509 Per Student
B Good

Jacobs Fork Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,509 Per Student
B Good

Newton-Conover High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
749 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
B Good

Startown Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
534 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,509 Per Student
B Good

Fred T Foard High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
956 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,509 Per Student
C Below Average

Discovery High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
162 Students
👨‍🏫
25.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,580 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 1,376 Off-Campus Students
C
Catawba Valley Community College
4,413 students · 5.1 mi
C
Lenoir-Rhyne University
2,230 students · 8.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,376 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Newton, NC?

In Newton, NC the median home value sits at $259K. Against the broader NC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How strong is tenant demand in Newton, NC?

Tenant demand in Newton, NC is solid. The local workforce $1,487/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Newton in NC worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Newton, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $259K and rents of $1,487/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What are vacancy rates like in Newton, NC?

Rental vacancy in Newton, NC is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Newton, NC?

Rental owners in Newton, NC deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 28658 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28658 ranks in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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