According to Little Boots, the song is about "being a stranger in a strange place which is fun but also has a dark side, and someone showing you around and in the end just kind of letting go.

She primarily drew inspiration for the track's lyrics from several strange individuals she met and the "seedy side of life" in the city.

[13] Clash critic Joe Zadeh commented that the track "gathers energetic momentum and is delivered with the sassy nonchalance that made Santogold so intriguing.

"[15] Virgin Group gave "New in Town" a rave review, referring to it as "a fantastic electro synth-fused pop record, with the catchy-ness of any chart-topping dance floor classic with an edgy attitude to match", and also noted that "[w]hilst it may be more straightforward pop than some of her previous efforts it is nonetheless a very impressive effort and fairly unique in comparison to the current chart.

[17] Andrzej Lukowski of Drowned in Sound felt that the song "is just too perky, feeling both formulaic and calculating, its chorus combining a Radio 1-stupid hands-in-the-air sentiment.

"[18] Giving the song a six out of ten rating, Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal stated that Little Boots "needs to chill on the chirp[y]" vocals.