Your life in New Castle County, Delaware

What stands out

Three things set New Castle County apart from the other 3,142 counties: the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 7% of American counties ($1,353 a month), the median household income is in the top 8% of American counties ($85,309), and the share working from home is in the top 9% of American counties (14%).

Where you are

You live in New Castle County, Delaware. 570,567 people live here with you. The population grew 0.6% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +1,203).

Delaware has no sales tax, low property taxes and a graduated income tax that tops out at 6.6%. More than a million business entities are incorporated in the state because of its Court of Chancery. Sussex County beaches draw retirees from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland; the state does not tax Social Security and exempts up to $12,500 of pension and retirement income for residents 60 and over.

Money

The typical household here brings in $85,309 a year, higher than 92% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $80,334. 14% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 22 minutes each way.

Delaware takes 5.4% of that median income in state income tax, about $4,614 a year.

Home

The median home costs $373K, pricier than 82% of American counties, about 2.9 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,353 a month. Property tax is 0.76% of home value, roughly $2,369 a year on that median home, lower than 59% of American counties. 68% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.1 per 1,000 residents, lower than 88% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 34 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 77.4 years, longer than 69% of American counties. There are 2,300 active physicians in the county, about 40.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.7 of 5 stars. 7.6% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.88 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 70% of American counties. 92% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 35 points. 70% of eligible voters turned out. Under Delaware law you need local approval to carry a concealed handgun, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 55°F, highs near 65 and lows near 46, colder than 52% of American counties. About 38 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 91 out of 100, riskier than 91% of American counties; the county has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 279 Mbps down, faster than 88% of American counties. There are 6 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 5 breweries, 22 museums, 1 National Park Service site.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Delaware tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.