The Town FilesNew Castle, Delaware
City in New Castle County · population 5,551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $285,100
- Household income
- $89,205
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 20 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 48.5
New Castle is a city of 5,551 people in New Castle County, Delaware. The median home is worth $285,100, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Delaware towns, more walkable than 89% of Delaware towns, better transit than 86% of Delaware towns.
How New Castle ranks
Percentile among Delaware towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Delaware towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Castle is worth $285,100, below the typical Delaware town ($302,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $89,205, which is more affordable than 84% of Delaware towns. Median rent is $1,739 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Castle | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $285,100 | $302,450 |
| Median rent | $1,739 | $1,342 |
| Median household income | $89,205 | $78,707 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 72.0% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1987 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in New Castle
| People | New Castle | Typical Delaware town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.5 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.9% | 17.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.8% | 32.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 8.4% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 21.6% | 13.8% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 25.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 93.0% |
Weather in New Castle
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 20.2 inches of snow (typical Delaware town: 12.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 92 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Castle since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical Delaware town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 28, 1961 about 0.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 33 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2012.
Severe weather in New Castle County since 1996
New Castle County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4627: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| October 2, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4566: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4526: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3449: Covid-19 |
| November 16, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4090: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in New Castle County
New Castle County had 303,806 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $80,334 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in New Castle itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Public schools in New Castle
15 public schools with 8,479 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn (William) High School | 9-12 | 2,077 | 17.5 |
| Bedford (Gunning) Middle School | 6-8 | 908 | 17.1 |
| Charter School of New Castle (charter) | K-8 | 764 | 21.2 |
| Southern Elementary School | K-5 | 743 | 12.2 |
| Read (George) Middle School | 6-8 | 688 | 14.6 |
| McCullough (Calvin R. ) Middle School | 6-8 | 625 | 16.4 |
| Castle Hills Elementary School | K-5 | 479 | 12.6 |
| Eisenberg (Harry O.) Elementary School | K-5 | 415 | 13.8 |
| New Castle Elementary School | K-5 | 388 | 12.5 |
| Pleasantville Elementary School | K-5 | 384 | 12.8 |
| Wilmington Manor Elementary School | K-8 | 368 | 12.7 |
| Downie (Carrie) Elementary School | K-5 | 356 | 14.8 |
Towns near New Castle
- Wilmington Manor, DE1.5 mi · 8,162 people · home $240,600
- Pennsville, NJ3.8 mi · 12,043 people · home $207,600
- Pennsville, NJ4.5 mi · 12,684 people · home $214,100
- Wilmington, DE4.9 mi · 70,898 people · home $231,400
- Elsmere, DE5.0 mi · 6,229 people · home $225,800
- Carneys Point, NJ5.8 mi · 7,841 people · home $193,300
- Penns Grove, NJ6.5 mi · 4,837 people · home $178,200
- Edgemoor, DE6.6 mi · 6,635 people · home $290,400
New Castle questions
Is New Castle, Delaware a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Castle scores better for retirees than 70% of Delaware towns and quieter than 71%. 22.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.5).
How much does a house cost in New Castle?
The median owner-occupied home in New Castle is valued at $285,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,205, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,739 a month.
What is the weather like in New Castle?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 20.2 inches of snow.
Does New Castle get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Castle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 28, 1961. The typical Delaware town has had 13.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)