Cost of Living in New Castle County, Delaware
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How New Castle County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
New Castle County ranks #2,861 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 9%)
Sourced county brief
New Castle County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,448 Per Month
The median gross rent in New Castle County was estimated at $1,448 per month, which is $101 above the Delaware unweighted county mean of $1,347. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI), documented in ACS table B25071, is 29.1%. This percentage is 1.6 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 30.7%. The median renter-household income for the county was $57,607. Among homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs for all units were $1,489, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,332. The median home value was $352,200, which is $1,733 above the state unweighted county mean of $350,467. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: New Castle County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.1% of renter household income in New Castle County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,448 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,489. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $57,920 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Delaware unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,347 per month. New Castle County's $1,448 median is 7.5% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in New Castle County
Rent Burden
19.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,127
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.6%
of gross income
The median home in New Castle County may be a stretch
Median home value is $352,200. Estimated monthly cost: $2,812 vs. your max of $2,127.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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