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CITY

New Castle

Pennsylvania · 21,175 residents (2025 est.) · 8.307 sq mi
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The short version

New Castle has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $42,219. Population has fallen 18% since 2000, a loss of 4,730 residents. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $77,400. The poverty rate of 28.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 46% less than the Pennsylvania median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
21,579
−18%since 2000
from 26,309 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,598 / sq mi
−18%since 2000
from 3,167 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.5
Unchangedsince 2000
from 39.4 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:21,175 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
21K23K25K27K29K1990201020202024New Castle
202422K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$42,219
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,598 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,415
+78%since 2000
from $13,730 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.6%
+12.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.0%
+7.2 ptssince 2000
from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.440
+5%since 2010
from 0.418 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information15.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade12.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services5%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$77,400
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$741
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $365 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
54.8%
−9.8 ptssince 2000
from 64.6% in 2000
45.2% rent
Vacancy rate
11.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.6%
−5.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
52.1%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
1.8
+9%since 2000
from 1.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in New Castle on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic86.4%(22,729)
Black10.7%(2,820)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(199)
Asian0.2%(44)
Other0%
Diversity Score26.4%(6,952)
2024
White, non-Hispanic75.7%(16,344)
Black10.8%(2,324)
Hispanic / Latino4.2%(897)
Asian0%(0)
Other9.3%(2,014)
Diversity Score50.5%(10,906)
Diversity Score
51
+91%since 2000
from 26 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 12.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.6%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
3.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 4.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+57%since 2000
from 14.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
75.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 78.4% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 10.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.8%
+9.9 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.2%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
16.7%
+2.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.5%
+1.7 ptssince 2011
from 10.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.9%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 54.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
10.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.5%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 46.9% in 2009
Female
53.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 53.1% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 46.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.8%
+4.3 ptssince 2012
from 18.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−83.2 ptssince 2013
from 89.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.5%
+18.5 ptssince 2017
from 65.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.4%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 95.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
2.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare New Castle to nearby cities

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NEW CASTLE VS
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NEW CASTLE VS
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NEW CASTLE VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in New Castle, Pennsylvania?

New Castle, Pennsylvania has about 21,579 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in New Castle, Pennsylvania?

The typical household in New Castle, Pennsylvania earns about $42,219 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is New Castle, Pennsylvania expensive?

In New Castle, Pennsylvania, the median home is worth about $77,400, and the typical rent is about $741 a month.

How educated are people in New Castle, Pennsylvania?

About 16.3% of adults age 25 and over in New Castle, Pennsylvania hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in New Castle, Pennsylvania?

About 28.0% of people in New Castle, Pennsylvania live below the federal poverty line.

Has New Castle, Pennsylvania grown since 1990?

Yes, New Castle, Pennsylvania has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,755 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →