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County in Delaware

New Castle County, Delaware

New Castle County is the most populous county in Delaware, with 577,961 residents. New Castle County has an FHA limit of $630,200 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $352,200. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,860 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $35.77 an hour.

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  • Typical home price

    $352,200

    Same as Delaware +6% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • New Castle
    • Delaware
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,860 a month

    +8% vs. Delaware +6% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • New Castle
    • Delaware
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $630,200

    FHA high-cost area

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • New Castle
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.71% of value per year

    +42% vs. Delaware −24% vs. U.S.

    $2,499 a year for the typical owner

    • New Castle
    • Delaware
    • United States

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$366,105
1.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,863 a month
3.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in New Castle County today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $2,854, that is, 38% of the typical household income in New Castle County. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $122,298 a year; the typical income here is $91,166. The typical property tax is $2,499 a year (about 0.71% of home value), higher than in Delaware. This is a high-cost area for FHA: the limit is above the national floor.

There are 2 agencies with HUD-approved housing counselors who speak Spanish near here.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); HUD (2026 data); HUD (Retrieved November 6, 2026).

Only here

What sets New Castle County apart

  1. New Castle County has the highest typical rent in its area: $1,448, more than any of its 2 neighboring counties; next is Kent County ($1,354).

  2. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in New Castle County rose 50% on FHFA's index, about the same as in Delaware (51%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in New Castle County

What homes there are in New Castle County, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house is still the most common home in New Castle County, but it weighs less than in Delaware: 53% against 59%.

Year built

In New Castle County, half of the homes were built before 1975; in Delaware, before 1987.

Homes in New Castle County are smaller: 68% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Delaware, 72%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in New Castle County sit under the FHA limit for this county ($630,200): about 87%.

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in New Castle County cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,860): about 76%.

With a mortgage

$1,882 a month

Delaware: $1,816 a month

Without a mortgage

$616 a month

Delaware: $562 a month

Owners with a mortgage

67%

Delaware: 64%

In New Castle County, 67% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,882 a month, about the same as in Delaware.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in New Castle County gained value more slowly than in Delaware: 35% since 2015–2019, against 40%.

The typical rent in New Castle County rose 25% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Delaware (24%).

To compare: typical income in New Castle County rose 23%; the home, +35%; the rent, +25%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureNew Castle CountyDelawareUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.0%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.0%2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.512.482.53
Drive alone 69%72%69%
Carpool 7%8%9%
Public transit 3%2%3%
Walk or bike 3%2%3%
Work from home 18%15%15%
Other means 2%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In New Castle County, the rental vacancy rate is 5.0%, about the same as in Delaware.

More than one person per room: that is how 2.0% of households in New Castle County live, near the figure in Delaware (2.1%).

By size, households in New Castle County look like those in Delaware: 2.51 people on average.

In New Castle County, 69% of workers drive alone to work; in Delaware, 72%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month in New Castle County?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $352,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income here, which is $91,166 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $122,298 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in New Castle County. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,327 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,854

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$345,821
Total interest
$497,555
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,948 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,127 a month

  • Tight

    $2,127 to $2,735 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,735 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in New Castle County ($91,166 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,854
Principal & interest$2,343
Property tax$208
Home insurance$147
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$156

You need at least $12,327 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

Buying a home

Buying a home in New Castle County

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how New Castle County compares with Delaware and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in New Castle County rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Delaware United States
In 2025 +2.8% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +51% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +74% +85%
See each year's change

The index follows the prices of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals on loans bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

New Castle County compared with Delaware and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • New Castle $352,200
  • Delaware $352,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • New Castle $1,448
  • Delaware $1,401
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • New Castle $91,166
  • Delaware $84,954
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
New Castle compared with Delaware and the United States
MeasureHereDelawareU.S.
Residents577,9611,021,191334,922,499
Typical home value$352,200$352,000$332,700
Typical household income$91,166$84,954$80,734
Typical rent$1,448$1,401$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,860$1,727$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$35.77$33.21$33.65
Typical property tax$2,499$1,768$3,119
Effective tax rate0.71%0.5%0.94%
Households that own their home69%73%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent48%50%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$630,200$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Delaware shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in New Castle County

For a typical $352,200 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $2,854 $12,327 $345,821 7.18% FHA MIP · $156 $22,893 580
Conventional, 5% down $2,789 $17,610 $334,590 7.18% PMI · $167 $28,176 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,264 $70,440 $281,760 7.18% None $81,006 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,589 $52,830 $299,370 8.18% None $63,396 Set by the lender
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

Everything about buying in New Castle County: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

This is a high-cost area, so FHA limits in New Castle County are above the national floor. The limit is set for the whole metro area (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-de-MD). If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $630,200 $832,750
2 units $806,750 $1,066,250
3 units $975,200 $1,288,800
4 units $1,211,950 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in New Castle County

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In New Castle County, the typical owner pays $2,499 a year: about 0.71% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Delaware and less than the national average.

  • New Castle 0.71%
  • Delaware 0.50%
  • United States 0.94%

What Delaware publishes School property tax credit for owners 65 and older (Delaware Department of Finance)

Exemptions and deadlines in Delaware

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in New Castle County 1.1% of homes (2,006) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 45% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in New Castle County

The natural hazards FEMA measures in New Castle County, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

In New Castle County, FEMA rates the natural hazard risk as relatively high.

FEMA builds that rating from three parts: expected loss, social vulnerability and community resilience.

In all, FEMA estimates natural hazards cause about $202 million in losses a year in New Castle County, across buildings, people and crops.

The hazard that would do the most damage to homes and buildings here is inland flooding: about $142 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively high $142 million a year
  2. EarthquakeRelatively moderate $7.2 million a year
  3. HurricaneRelatively moderate $6 million a year
  4. TornadoRelatively moderate $3.7 million a year
  5. Coastal floodingRelatively high $3.7 million a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

New Castle County is climate zone 4A in the home energy code (IECC): mixed and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Winter

    • Get the house ready for the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Ready.gov (FEMA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$35.86$22.59 and $63.76
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$35.99$23.27 and $68.37
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$31.05$21.88 and $48.46
Roofers$28.72$19.49 and $41.65
Carpenters$29.70$21.97 and $47.34
Painters, construction and maintenance$27.60$18.04 and $37.00
Maintenance and repair workers, general$24.14$17.56 and $37.16

In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD area, half of electricians earn more than $35.86 an hour and half earn less; for a plumber, the typical figure is $35.99.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in New Castle County

The typical rent in New Castle County is $1,448 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

48% of renter households in New Castle County spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 24% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $1,438 $27.65 $57,520
1 bedroom $1,558 $29.96 $62,320
2 bedrooms $1,860 $35.77 $74,400
3 bedrooms $2,216 $42.62 $88,640
4 bedrooms $2,445 $47.02 $97,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Free help in New Castle County

Programs and counseling in New Castle County

There are 6 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in New Castle County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Delaware down payment programs

  1. Home Sweet Home

    Delaware state authority second loan of $12,000 at 0%, forgiven 10% for each year you live in the home (all of it after 10 years), for homes up to $285,000; the agency announced it as a temporary program

    The source does not say whether you must be a first-time buyer. Run by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. Keys4You Home Loan

    Delaware state authority 0% second mortgage equal to 4% of your mortgage, for the down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments until you sell, refinance or stop living in the home; with the Welcome Home (first-time buyers) or Open Door (any buyer) mortgages

    No first-time requirement. Run by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred Verified November 5, 2026

  3. Take5 Home Loan

    Delaware state authority 0% second mortgage equal to 5% of your mortgage, for the down payment and closing costs, with no monthly payments until you sell, refinance or stop living in the home; only with the Welcome Home mortgage for first-time buyers

    First-time buyers only. Run by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Delaware programs

Help in Spanish in New Castle County

2 of the 6 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this county.

  • Wilmington Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (302) 429-6701
  • New Castle County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (302) 395-5672

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in New Castle County. The full list is on the Delaware counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • CCCS of Delaware Valley, DBA Clarifi

    710 North Lincoln Street, Wilmington · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (800) 989-2227

  • Neighborgood Partners - Newark Branch

    501 Ogletown Road, Room 306, Newark · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (302) 678-9400

  • Housing Opportunities of Northern Delaware, Inc.

    100 W 10th St Ste 1001, Wilmington

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (302) 429-0794
See every agency in Delaware

Places

Cities in New Castle County

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

See all 15 cities of New Castle County

Nearby counties

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with New Castle County.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in New Castle County in 2026?

New Castle County has an FHA limit of $630,200 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $806,750, for 3 it's $975,200 and for 4 it's $1,211,950. It's a high-cost area, so the limit is above the national floor.

What is the conforming loan limit in New Castle County?

New Castle County has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in New Castle County?

The typical home value in New Castle County is $352,200 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Delaware it's $352,000.

How much does it cost to rent in New Castle County?

New Castle County has a typical rent of $1,448 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,860 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in New Castle County?

About $35.77 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $74,400 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,860 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).