States › Delaware › New Castle

Is New Castle, DE expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 26 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$2,12221% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$96,208about $8,017/month · 10% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$285,10014% lower than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 74% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs under 3 years of household income, which is easy by U.S. standards.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $84,880 a year. That is $41 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Delaware cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Delaware. It is number 16 of 20 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

New Castle
$2,122
Elsmere
$1,221
Edgemoor
$1,403
Pike Creek
$2,380
Millsboro
$2,093
Georgetown
$1,484
Wilmington Manor
$1,541

How much do households earn in New Castle?

Under $25k
7.4%
$25k–50k
17.8%
$50k–100k
44.2%
$100k–150k
19.7%
$150k+
8.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 28.2% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in New Castle

SizeNew CastleU.S. average
1 bedroom$1,267$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,955$1,509
3 bedrooms$2,257$1,698

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is New Castle overall?

Everyday prices in Delaware overall are same as the U.S. average (index 99.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
102
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
104
Other services
101
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for New Castle, so the Delaware figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in New Castle

🏛️ Property tax$1,481a year · 0.52% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$136a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in New Castle

Commute to work23.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree33.8%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home63.4%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment1.3%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in New Castle?

Buying is cheaper month to month: about $144 a month less than renting.

Renting
$2,122
Owning
$1,978

Owning assumes a typical $285,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $28,510 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in New Castle, DE?

Renting in New Castle costs a median of about $2,122 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Delaware median is $1,693.

How much do I need to make to live in New Castle?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $84,880 a year, or $41 an hour at a full-time job.

Is New Castle cheap or expensive?

New Castle is rated OK: rent takes 26.5% of the typical household income of $96,208. It ranks 16th cheapest of 20 Delaware cities we track.

How much are property taxes in New Castle?

The median homeowner in New Castle pays $1,481 a year in property taxes, about 0.52% of the median home value.

Is New Castle more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Delaware are same as the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in New Castle?

The median home value in New Castle is $285,100, about 3.0 times the typical yearly household income.

5,579 people live in New Castle. Numbers are typical (middle) values.