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City · 7,834 residents · New Castle County, Delaware

North Star , Delaware

In North Star, a typical home is worth $583,700. Compared with all of New Castle County, the typical home value is 66% higher, typical household income is 65% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 17 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $583,700

    66% above the county

    66% above Delaware

    • North Star
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

  • Typical household income

    $150,733a year

    65% above the county

    77% above Delaware

    • North Star
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

  • Households that own their home

    86%

    17 points above the county

    13 points above Delaware

    • North Star
    • New Castle
    • Delaware

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

North Star is in New Castle County. The FHA loan limit ($630,200 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of New Castle County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets North Star apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. North Star has the highest typical home value of the 21 cities in Delaware with more than 5,000 people: $583,700.

  2. The typical household income in North Star is $150,733, 65% more than in New Castle County as a whole ($91,166).

  3. Nearby, in Brookside, the typical home value is $279,700: 52% less than in North Star ($583,700).

  4. 86% of households in North Star own their home, against 69% in New Castle County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in North Star

What homes there are in North Star, 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

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 90% of homes here, against 53% in New Castle County.

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1988 or later; in New Castle County, from 1975 or later.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,784 a month

New Castle County: $1,882 a month

Without a mortgage

$810 a month

New Castle County: $616 a month

Owners with a mortgage

59%

New Castle County: 67%

In North Star, 59% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,784 a month, against $1,882 in New Castle County. Without one it drops to $810.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in North Star rose 31%; in New Castle County, it rose 35%.

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

MeasureNorth StarNew Castle CountyDelawareUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.0%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.0%2.1%3.4%
People per household 2.582.512.482.53
Drive alone 70%69%72%69%
Carpool 4%7%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate3%2%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%2%3%
Work from home 21%18%15%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in North Star has 2.58 people on average, about the same as in New Castle County (2.51).

Many people here do not commute at all: 21% work from home; in New Castle County, 18%.

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 for a home in North Star?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in North Star, worth $583,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income in North Star, which is $150,733 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $204,977 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of New Castle County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in North Star. 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 $20,430 (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

$4,783

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$573,127
Total interest
$824,596
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $9,857 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,517 a month

  • Tight

    $3,517 to $4,522 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,522 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in North Star ($150,733 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,783
Principal & interest$3,883
Property tax$399
Home insurance$243
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$258

You need at least $20,430 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.

The city and its county

North Star and New Castle County

North Star is in New Castle County, Delaware. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

North Star's own numbers

Typical home value
$583,700
Typical yearly household income
$150,733
Households that own their home
86%
Effective property tax rate
0.82%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of New Castle County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$630,200
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,860
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of New Castle County.

Everything about New Castle County

Buying

Buying a home in North Star

A typical home in North Star is worth $583,700: 66% above the county and 66% above Delaware. With the typical household income in North Star ($150,733 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • North Star 3.9 years
  • New Castle 3.9 years
  • Delaware 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in New Castle County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in New Castle County rose 72% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of New Castle County.

Period County Delaware U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.8% +3.2% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +51% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +72% +74% +85%

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

North Star next to New Castle County, Delaware and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • North Star $583,700
  • New Castle $352,200
  • Delaware $352,000
  • United States $332,700
Typical yearly household income
  • North Star $150,733
  • New Castle $91,166
  • Delaware $84,954
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
North Star next to New Castle County and Delaware
Measure North Star New Castle County Delaware U.S.
Typical home value $583,700 $352,200 $352,000 $332,700
Typical yearly household income $150,733 $91,166 $84,954 $80,734
Households that own their home 86% 69% 73% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,798 $2,499 $1,768 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.82% 0.71% 0.5% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below New Castle County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in North Star

For a typical $583,700 home in North Star, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, North Star's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,783a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $20,430
    Cash to close
    $37,941
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $258

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,676a month

    Down payment
    $29,185
    Cash to close
    $46,696
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $277

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,805a month

    Down payment
    $116,740
    Cash to close
    $134,251
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,345a month

    Down payment
    $87,555
    Cash to close
    $105,066
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • 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.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for North Star and for New Castle County.

Property tax

Effective rate in North Star

0.82%of the home’s value each year

$4,798 a year for the typical owner in North Star.

  • North Star 0.82%
  • New Castle 0.71%
  • Delaware 0.5%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Delaware

Flood risk in New Castle County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of New Castle County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
2,006
Of those, with NFIP insurance
45%
County Delaware U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 5.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 45% 58% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in North Star

The Census Bureau publishes no typical rent for North Star. Below are the fair market rents for New Castle County.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of New Castle County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,860 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $35.77 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of New Castle County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
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

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in North Star

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). North Star is in ZIP code 19711.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,900: $40 more than the fair market rent for New Castle County ($1,860).

  • 19711 $1,900$2,260

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for North Star when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in North Star

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 6 HUD-approved agencies with an office in New Castle County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in North Star

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for North Star or New Castle County. The ones below are statewide in Delaware: they work in North Star the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Delaware

  • Home Sweet Home

    Statewide in Delaware

    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. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • Keys4You Home Loan

    Statewide in Delaware

    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. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Take5 Home Loan

    Statewide in Delaware

    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. Offered by Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near North Star

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of North Star, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Neighborgood Partners - Newark Branch

    501 Ogletown Road, Room 306, Newark · 5 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole.

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

  • CCCS of Delaware Valley, DBA Clarifi

    710 North Lincoln Street, Wilmington · 9 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware

    613 N Washington St, Wilmington · 10 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (302) 652-3991

Every agency in New Castle County All counseling agencies in Delaware

Help in Spanish near North Star

2 of the 3 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.

Housing authorities of North Star

HUD’s record names them for North Star or New Castle County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • New Castle County Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (302) 395-5672

2 other authorities have an office in New Castle County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in New Castle County

These cities are also in New Castle County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about New Castle County Housing in Delaware
See 2 more cities in New Castle County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to North Star, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If New Castle County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in North Star.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about North Star

Short answers with the numbers for North Star and all of New Castle County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in North Star?

The typical home value in North Star is $583,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in New Castle County it is $352,200.

What is the FHA loan limit in North Star?

North Star uses the FHA limit for all of New Castle County (2026): $630,200 for a one-unit home and $1,211,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in North Star?

The typical homeowner in North Star pays $4,798 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.82% of the home’s value; in New Castle County, the rate is 0.71%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in North Star?

There are 6 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in New Castle County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).