New Castle County, Delaware Demographics 2026
New Castle County, Delaware has a population of 577,961, the 1st most populous county in Delaware. The median household income is $91,166 and the median home value is $352,200. The poverty rate is 10.1%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
New Castle County Quick Facts
How New Castle County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 573,030 | 577,961 | +0.9% |
| Median household income | $89,901 | $91,166 | +1.4% |
| Median home value | $329,800 | $352,200 | +6.8% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 60 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in New Castle County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 71,727 | $58,671 | 21.4% | $231,400 |
| Newark | 30,330 | $76,912 | 27.7% | $382,500 |
| Middletown | 24,661 | $112,831 | 8.3% | $409,600 |
| Bear | 22,370 | $91,687 | 8.7% | $304,800 |
| Glasgow | 15,546 | $113,982 | 8.0% | $373,900 |
| Brookside | 15,115 | $78,328 | 14.6% | $279,700 |
| Hockessin | 13,439 | $171,204 | 1.5% | $568,800 |
| Smyrna | 13,165 | $67,048 | 12.9% | $291,400 |
| Pike Creek Valley | 12,431 | $102,434 | 6.2% | $340,300 |
| Claymont | 8,786 | $74,712 | 10.0% | $276,600 |
| Wilmington Manor | 8,214 | $78,078 | 11.6% | $240,600 |
| North Star | 7,834 | $150,733 | 3.5% | $583,700 |
| Pike Creek | 7,129 | $139,635 | 1.3% | $422,500 |
| Edgemoor | 6,349 | $59,424 | 17.4% | $290,400 |
| Elsmere | 6,203 | $67,944 | 23.1% | $225,800 |
| New Castle | 5,579 | $89,205 | 4.7% | $285,100 |
| Clayton | 4,222 | $107,307 | 5.3% | $361,300 |
| Greenville | 3,713 | $142,844 | 4.0% | $1,062,500 |
| Townsend | 2,832 | $153,000 | 2.4% | $465,100 |
| Delaware City | 1,950 | $85,395 | 6.4% | $266,900 |
| St. Georges | 1,530 | $131,553 | 0.4% | $463,200 |
| Bellefonte | 1,388 | $90,694 | 5.5% | $289,500 |
| Newport | 900 | $60,761 | 10.0% | $246,000 |
| Arden | 627 | $79,306 | 5.0% | $479,400 |
| Port Penn | 592 | $72,009 | 0.0% | $383,900 |
| Odessa | 409 | $123,750 | 2.0% | $348,400 |
| Ardentown | 233 | $77,188 | 6.7% | $400,000 |
| Ardencroft | 213 | $130,688 | 4.7% | $432,100 |
Explore Delaware Rankings
Population Overview
New Castle County is located in Delaware with a total population of 577,961. It is the 1st most populous county out of 3 in Delaware. The county encompasses 28 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in New Castle County is 39.3 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 41.6 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in New Castle County is $91,166. This is 7% higher than the state median of $84,954. It is also 13% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 10.1%. This is 3% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.4%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $352,200. Housing costs are about the same as the state median of $352,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.9x. 69.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 73.0%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in New Castle County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 52.3% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 24.9%.
Education
39.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher than the state rate of 35.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.6%. Notably, 17.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for New Castle County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Delaware and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of New Castle County, Delaware?
New Castle County has a population of 577,961, making it the 1st most populous county in Delaware.
What is the median income in New Castle County?
The median household income in New Castle County is $91,166 with a poverty rate of 10.1%.
How many cities are in New Castle County, Delaware?
New Castle County contains 28 Census-designated places.