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COUNTY

New Castle County

Delaware · 588,026 residents (2025 est.) · 426 sq mi
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Part of the Philadelphia metro area
The short version

New Castle County is home to 577,961 people in Delaware. That puts it in the top 2% of US counties for household income. There are 1,356 people per square mile. 77,696 more people live here than in 2000. About 40% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Median household income runs $91,166, well clear of the $82,259 US median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.3
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 45%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
577,961
+16%since 2000
from 500,265 in 2000
588,026 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,356 / sq mi
+10%since 2009
from 1,238 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
39.3
+12%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
426 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
428K469K510K551K592K19902000201020202024New Castle County
2024578K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.5%(31,543)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.6%(32,342)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.3%(36,685)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.7%(38,938)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.2%(35,574)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.8%(80,036)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4413.3%(76,725)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412.2%(70,374)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413.4%(77,186)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.2%(58,805)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845%(28,703)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(11,050)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$91,166
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,419 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$47,777
+88%since 2000
from $25,413 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
58.6%
+16.7 ptssince 2009
from 41.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.1%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.452
+3%since 2010
from 0.441 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services11.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Information10.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Public administration10.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade7.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance6.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade5.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.5%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$352,200
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $132,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,448
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $670 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.0%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 70.1% in 2000
31.0% rent
Vacancy rate
5.0%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.51 people
−4%since 2009
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
20.0%
−6.4 ptssince 2009
from 26.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
45.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
−1%since 2009
from 3.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
37
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic70.7%(353,760)
Black19.9%(99,648)
Hispanic / Latino5.3%(26,293)
Asian2.6%(12,856)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic52.3%(302,505)
Black24.9%(143,725)
Hispanic / Latino11.8%(68,181)
Asian6.2%(35,717)
Other4.8%(27,833)
Diversity Score
81
+24%since 2009
from 65 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
35
−6%since 2020
from 37 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.4%(25,453)
Puerto Rican3.7%(21,312)
Dominican1%(5,713)
Central American0.6%(3,600)
Colombian0.3%(1,826)
Guatemalan0.3%(1,568)
Spaniard0.2%(1,378)
Cuban0.2%(1,313)
Venezuelan0.2%(905)
Peruvian0.1%(841)
Chilean0.1%(805)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Honduran0.1%(728)
Salvadoran0.1%(654)
Argentine0.1%(619)
Ecuadorian0.1%(539)
Panamanian0.1%(426)
Bolivian0%(82)
Uruguayan0%(79)
Asian origin
Asian Indian2.7%(15,782)
Chinese1.3%(7,337)
Filipino0.6%(3,391)
Pakistani0.3%(1,757)
Korean0.3%(1,707)
Bangladeshi0.2%(1,385)
Vietnamese0.2%(1,295)
Japanese0.1%(552)
Taiwanese0.1%(525)
Nepalese0.1%(329)
Cambodian0%(144)
Kazakh0%(111)
+ 8 more asian origin groups with data
Sri Lankan0%(103)
Thai0%(77)
Uzbek0%(62)
Mongolian0%(55)
Malaysian0%(47)
Laotian0%(37)
Burmese0%(7)
Pacific Islander origin
Guamanian0%(59)
Samoan0%(32)
Chamorro0%(10)
Tongan0%(3)
Fijian0%(3)
Ancestry
Irish14.8%(85,505)
German11.7%(67,470)
Italian9.6%(55,298)
English9.2%(53,436)
Polish4.5%(26,166)
American3.2%(18,604)
Subsaharan African2.4%(14,023)
West Indian1.5%(8,472)
Scottish1.5%(8,436)
French1.1%(6,153)
Jamaican0.9%(4,990)
Arab0.7%(4,249)
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data
Welsh0.7%(3,931)
Ukrainian0.6%(3,562)
Russian0.6%(3,455)
Swedish0.6%(3,213)
Dutch0.5%(3,133)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(2,671)
Greek0.4%(2,594)
Norwegian0.4%(2,396)
Nigerian0.4%(2,063)
Hungarian0.3%(1,794)
British0.3%(1,500)
Haitian0.3%(1,500)
Ghanaian0.3%(1,498)
Lithuanian0.2%(1,441)
Slovak0.2%(1,408)
Czech0.2%(1,343)
French Canadian0.2%(1,191)
Egyptian0.2%(1,190)
Turkish0.2%(1,156)
Kenyan0.2%(997)
Austrian0.2%(951)
Canadian0.1%(751)
Danish0.1%(742)
Swiss0.1%(740)
Portuguese0.1%(718)
Lebanese0.1%(578)
Barbadian0.1%(498)
Ethiopian0.1%(464)
Bulgarian0.1%(402)
Romanian0.1%(388)
Finnish0.1%(364)
Moroccan0.1%(348)
Iranian0.1%(347)
Guyanese0.1%(342)
Croatian0.1%(321)
Belgian0%(262)
Serbian0%(250)
Syrian0%(178)
Slovene0%(168)
Latvian0%(155)
Jordanian0%(121)
Brazilian0%(107)
Armenian0%(103)
Israeli0%(81)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
39.7%
+10.2 ptssince 2000
from 29.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.6%
+7.1 ptssince 2000
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.2%
+6.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.3 min
+61%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.6%
−10.3 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.6%
+14.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
65.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2011
from 67.2% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
79.1%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 76.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
12.6%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
47.3%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 40.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
12.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 11.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.2%
+12.4 ptssince 2017
from 80.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
96.8%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 94.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
88.9%
+1.2 ptssince 2020
from 87.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
82.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2016
from 85.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2016
from 7.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married39.4%(90,389)
Married49%(112,456)
Widowed2.9%(6,720)
Divorced8.7%(19,853)
Women 15+
Never married36%(89,278)
Married43.9%(108,966)
Widowed8%(19,751)
Divorced12.1%(29,978)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
5.9%
−3.0 ptssince 2013
from 8.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
62.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2020
from 65.7% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2020
from 13.1% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
18.1%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 17.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
18.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 18.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2020
from 1.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
73.2%
−2.2 ptssince 2020
from 75.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
34.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2020
from 33.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)22.4%(5,898)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.4%(5,106)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era34%(8,941)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War4%(1,042)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.3%(352)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 26,290 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare New Castle County to nearby counties

NEW CASTLE COUNTY VS
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Income$79,960−12%
Home value$239,500−32%
Population66,280−89%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW CASTLE COUNTY VS
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Income$92,007+1%
Home value$343,400−2%
Population107,131−82%
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NEW CASTLE COUNTY VS
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Income$89,546−2%
Home value$332,200−6%
Population580,937−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
NEW CASTLE COUNTY VS
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Income$127,208+40%
Home value$485,600+38%
Population557,116−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in New Castle County, Delaware?

New Castle County, Delaware has about 577,961 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in New Castle County, Delaware?

The typical household in New Castle County, Delaware earns about $91,166 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is New Castle County, Delaware expensive?

In New Castle County, Delaware, the median home is worth about $352,200, and the typical rent is about $1,448 a month.

How educated are people in New Castle County, Delaware?

About 39.7% of adults age 25 and over in New Castle County, Delaware hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in New Castle County, Delaware?

About 10.1% of people in New Castle County, Delaware live below the federal poverty line.

Has New Castle County, Delaware grown since 1990?

Yes, New Castle County, Delaware has grown since 1990. The population has added about 136,015 residents, a change of about 31 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 →