1st Advantage MortgageAbout 69% of New Castle County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $91,166. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- New Castle County in brief
- Work, industries and travel time in New Castle County
- Paychecks and income spread in New Castle County
- New Castle County housing compared with Delaware
- Wilmington and the rest of New Castle County
- New Castle County next to its neighbors
- New Castle County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for New Castle County
- What a median New Castle County budget can carry
- Steps before you apply in New Castle County
- Licensing and complaints for New Castle County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
New Castle County in brief
New Castle County is home to about 577,961 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 1st most populous of 3 county-level areas in Delaware. It covers 426 square miles of land, or about 1,356 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Largest place: Wilmington, about 71,727 residents (12% of New Castle County); 26 Census places in all.
Work, industries and travel time in New Castle County
Top New Castle County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 26%; second, professional and administrative services, 12%. Relative to Delaware (9%), finance, insurance and real estate is 2 points bigger in New Castle County (12%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | New Castle County | Difference from Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 11.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.1% | -0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in New Castle County
$91,166 is the median household income for New Castle County, set against $84,954 for Delaware. In the state ranking that is 1st of 3.
| Income band | Share in New Castle County | Difference from Delaware |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.9% | -0.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.5% | -2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.6% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 15.0% | +2.5 pts |
Six-figure households (46%) outnumber those under $35,000 (17%) in New Castle County. Poverty rate, New Castle County: 10.1%; Delaware: 10.4%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.452 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
New Castle County housing compared with Delaware
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,448 in New Castle County versus $1,401 statewide. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 48% in New Castle County, 50% statewide. Home values center on $352,200, or 3.9 years of median income. 69% of New Castle County households own their home and 31% rent. Nationally, New Castle County's $1,448 rent is 65% above the middle county.
| Cost | New Castle County | Delaware figure | Higher or lower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 2.0% | 7.0% | -5.0 pts |
| Owners | 69% | 73% | -4.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 50% | -1.8 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 26% | -0.9 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,448/mo | $1,401/mo | 3% higher |
| Median home value | $352,200 | $352,000 | level |
Wilmington and the rest of New Castle County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 26 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 47% of New Castle County residents live in one of the 26. Hockessin ($171,204) and Wilmington ($58,671) mark the top and bottom of New Castle County's income range among larger places. Rent is cheapest in Arden ($1,125) and steepest in Hockessin ($3,501). One of them, Wilmington, has a separate city guide (linked); for the rest, this is the local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | city | 71,727 | $58,671 | $1,224 | 13 mi |
| Newark | city | 30,330 | $76,912 | $1,654 | 9 mi |
| Middletown | town | 24,661 | $112,831 | $1,583 | 10 mi |
| Bear | CDP | 22,370 | $91,687 | $1,771 | 4 mi |
| Glasgow | CDP | 15,546 | $113,982 | $2,039 | 6 mi |
| Brookside | CDP | 15,115 | $78,328 | $1,444 | 7 mi |
| Hockessin | CDP | 13,439 | $171,204 | $3,501 | 15 mi |
| Pike Creek Valley | CDP | 12,431 | $102,434 | $1,751 | 11 mi |
| Claymont | CDP | 8,786 | $74,712 | $1,306 | 18 mi |
| Wilmington Manor | CDP | 8,214 | $78,078 | $1,155 | 8 mi |
| North Star | CDP | 7,834 | $150,733 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Pike Creek | CDP | 7,129 | $139,635 | $2,262 | 12 mi |
| Edgemoor | CDP | 6,349 | $59,424 | $1,438 | 14 mi |
| Elsmere | town | 6,203 | $67,944 | $1,339 | 12 mi |
New Castle County next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to New Castle County's, from 15 to 33 miles away. Income ranges from $67,436 in Cumberland County to $127,208 in Chester County; 3 of these neighbors top New Castle County's median. Some neighbors are in Maryland and New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a New Castle County resident follows Delaware rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | - | $91,166 | $1,448/mo | 69% |
| Salem County, NJ | 15 mi | $79,960 | $1,253/mo | 71% |
| Cecil County, MD | 16 mi | $92,007 | $1,377/mo | 75% |
| Delaware County, PA | 27 mi | $89,546 | $1,372/mo | 70% |
| Chester County, PA | 28 mi | $127,208 | $1,763/mo | 75% |
| Gloucester County, NJ | 28 mi | $105,115 | $1,531/mo | 80% |
| Cumberland County, NJ | 33 mi | $67,436 | $1,282/mo | 67% |
New Castle County residents: age, schooling, coverage
40% of New Castle County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | New Castle County | Compared with Delaware | Compared with median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | -2.3 yrs | -2.2 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.7% | +3.9 pts | +17.5 pts |
| No high school diploma | 7.4% | -0.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | -0.4 pts | -1.9 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | +1.3 pts | +2.0 pts |
| Work from home | 17.6% | +2.5 pts | +8.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | -0.3 pts | -3.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | -0.3 pts | +0.4 pts |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for New Castle County
Where the New Castle County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Consolidation math. With 46% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 48% of New Castle County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
What a median New Castle County budget can carry
New Castle County's $91,166 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Median income divided by twelve: $7,597 before taxes
- Housing at the median rent of $1,448 uses 19%
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,591 left for all other debt payments
Two-income households and single earners in New Castle County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in New Castle County
Steps that save money for New Castle County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in New Castle County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one New Castle County-area credit union.
- Verify the Delaware license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for New Castle County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with New Castle County borrowers answers to the Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner. If a New Castle County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. See the Delaware state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
Guides that cover parts of New Castle County:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical New Castle County household make?
About $91,166 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% above the Delaware median.
Can a New Castle County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,448 median rent and $7,597 median monthly income, rent alone uses 19%; add other debts before a new payment.
What are the biggest places in New Castle County?
By population: Wilmington, Newark, Middletown, Bear, Glasgow. The county has 26 Census places in all.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in New Castle County or elsewhere in Delaware, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for New Castle County residents?
The Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner licenses consumer lenders in Delaware; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.