County FMR · HUD FY2026

New Castle County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for New Castle County, DE - 58% above the US average.

$1,520
1-bedroom FMR
$1,810
2-bedroom FMR
+0.5%
YoY change
+58%
vs US avg

The verdict

New Castle is the 1st most expensive of 3 counties in Delaware by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #220 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#220
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#1
most expensive of 3 in Delaware (2BR)
+22%
vs the state average
$60,800
income to afford it (30% rule)

General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (60.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for New Castle County, DE. Verify with HUD →

New Castle County, Delaware carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,520 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,810/mo and a studio is $1,397/mo. That's 58% above the national benchmark of $959 and 22% above the Delaware average of $1,250.

Rent increased0.5% from FY 2025 ($1,512), roughly tracking inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $60,800/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Delaware. Population: 570,567. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.2%, Census ACS). That's slower than Delaware's statewide growth of +5.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area NEW·CASTLE·COUNTY·DE·DE

New Castle County, DE: $1,520/mo 1BR · #220 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA DE
  • 1BR-FMR $1,520
  • 2BR-FMR $1,810
  • RANK-UPPER #220
  • YOY-FLAT +0.5%
  • VSUS-HIGH +58%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +22% DE
  • INC-MID 20%
  • POP-MAJOR 571K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Sussex County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $1,368–$1,672
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Sussex ($454 1BR gap)

Read with: Understanding rent burden

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $1,205 · US avg: $893
$1,397/mo
↑ 1.8% YoY +16% vs state +56% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,250 · US avg: $959
$1,520/mo
↑ 0.5% YoY +22% vs state +58% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,560 · US avg: $1,175
$1,810/mo
↑ 0.4% YoY +16% vs state +54% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,990 · US avg: $1,525
$2,170/mo
↓ 0.0% YoY +9% vs state +42% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,293 · US avg: $1,756
$2,423/mo
↓ 1.8% YoY +6% vs state +38% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,372
$1,397
+$25 (+1.8%)
1 Bedroom $1,512
$1,520
+$8 (+0.5%)
2 Bedroom $1,802
$1,810
+$8 (+0.4%)
3 Bedroom $2,171
$2,170
$-1 (-0.0%)
4 Bedroom $2,468
$2,423
$-45 (-1.8%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in New Castle County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
18.6%
Affordable
Need $55,880/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
20.3%
Affordable
Need $60,800/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
24.2%
Affordable
Need $72,400/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
29%
Affordable
Need $86,800/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
32.3%
Burdened
Need $96,920/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%24.2%
New Castle County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $89,901 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Delaware rent burden →

Where New Castle sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,810 Top 7% higher than 93% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Below this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Below this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Below this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). This entry sits in this band. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How New Castle compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Delaware counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows New Castle is highlighted. Nearby Delaware counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: New Castle County (this county) ($1,520), Kent County ($1,165), Sussex County ($1,066).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

Against a high local FMR of $1,520/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Delaware BLS wages?

Occupation DE Salary Rent Burden Verdict
General & Operations Managers $136,900 13.3% Affordable
Software Developers $135,160 13.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $92,610 19.7% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $84,560 21.6% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $83,230 21.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $66,390 27.5% Affordable
Electricians $62,970 29% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $60,000 30.4% Stretched
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $58,510 31.2% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $46,300 39.4% Stretched
Pharmacy Technicians $43,470 42% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $36,760 49.6% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $34,560 52.8% Unaffordable
Retail Salespersons $34,200 53.3% Unaffordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $30,210 60.4% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Delaware) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for New Castle County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for New Castle (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 50.0% overall, from $1,013 to $1,520. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.1% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$800$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,520
New Castle County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑0.5% $1,397 $1,520 $1,810
FY 2025 ↑4.2% $1,372 $1,512 $1,802
FY 2024 ↑19.1% $1,303 $1,451 $1,737
FY 2023 ↑13.7% $1,081 $1,218 $1,470
FY 2022 ↑3.0% $940 $1,071 $1,298
FY 2021 ↑2.7% $900 $1,040 $1,260
FY 2020 $864 $1,013 $1,226
Total change (6yr): +50.0%
Annualized: +7.0%/yr
1 BR: $1,013 → $1,520

Part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metro Area

New Castle County is a central county of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area, alongside 10 other metro-area counties.

New Castle County ranks #11 of 11 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Philadelphia County ($1,520), Montgomery County ($1,520), Bucks County ($1,520), Delaware County ($1,520), Chester County ($1,520), Camden County ($1,520), Burlington County ($1,520), Gloucester County ($1,520), Cecil County ($1,520), Salem County ($1,520), New Castle County (this county) ($1,520).

Philadelphia County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Montgomery County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Bucks County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Delaware County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Chester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Camden County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Burlington County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Gloucester County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Cecil County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
Salem County
1 BR: $1,520/mo
New Castle County (this county)
1 BR: $1,520/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for New Castle County, both outside Delaware so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside DE (FY2026).

Philadelphia County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Montgomery County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Bucks County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo
Delaware County
PA · 2 BR $1,810/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside DE).

Johnson County
KY · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $866/mo
Dauphin County
PA · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $1,493/mo
Ellis County
TX · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $1,931/mo
Mecklenburg County
NC · 24.2% of income · 2 BR $1,686/mo

Nearby Counties in Delaware

Largest counties by population in Delaware

Sussex County
1 BR: $1,066/mo Pop: 240,668
Kent County
1 BR: $1,165/mo Pop: 182,400
View all counties in Delaware →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in New Castle County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in New Castle County is $1,520 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,810 and a studio is $1,397.
How does New Castle County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in New Castle County is 58% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,520 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does New Castle County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, New Castle County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,810 ranks #220 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in New Castle County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $60,800 ($5,067/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in New Castle County.
Is rent going up or down in New Castle County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in New Castle County increased by 0.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,512 to $1,520.
Which jobs can afford rent in New Castle County? ▼
Based on Delaware BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,520/mo. 7 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in New Castle County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in New Castle County went from $1,013 in FY 2020 to $1,520 in FY 2026, a total change of +50.0% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in New Castle County? ▼
In New Castle County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,520/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for New Castle County? ▼
For New Castle County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,520/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.