City Report · PA

New Castle

Pop. 21,579·156th most expensive in Pennsylvania·New Castle rents are up 11.4% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$931/mo
Year-over-Year
+11.4%
Month-over-Month
+2.2%
vs US Median
-$1,001
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
New Castle · $931
More affordable than 99% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $931/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$37,000/yr
Local median income
$42,219/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using New Castle's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$620
1 BR
$690
2 BR
$910
3 BR
$1,270
4 BR+
$1,450
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$910/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $931 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in New Castle changed +11.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($42,219) is $1,055 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($910); a 3-bedroom is $1,270.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for New Castle. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$11,172/yr
At $931/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 11.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+11.4% YoY, +2.2% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

New Castle, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 16.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
21,579
Median income
$42,219
Median age
39.5
Renters
45.2%
Age distribution
23.5%
20.7%
24.2%
12.8%
18.9%
Under 1823.5%
18–3420.7%
35–5424.2%
55–6412.8%
65+18.9%
Gender
46.8%
53.2%
Male46.8%
Female53.2%
Race & ethnicity
76.7%
White76.7%
Black11.2%
Hispanic4.2%
Other8%
Education (25+)
47.2%
26.1%
16.3%
No HS diploma10.4%
HS diploma47.2%
Some college26.1%
Bachelor's+16.3%
Housing tenure
54.8%
45.2%
Owner54.8%
Renter45.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How New Castle, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$36,595 → $42,219
up 15.4%
Population
21,992 → 21,579
down 1.9%
Renter share
44.9% → 45.2%
+0.3 pts
Bachelor's+
15.7% → 16.3%
+0.6 pts

Median household income grew from $36,595 to $42,219 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.4% shift. Headcount in the area went from 21,992 to 21,579 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change.

Community

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View New Castle rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in New Castle on your salary?

At $931/mo, how New Castle rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

New Castle rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in New Castle. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in New Castle

About renting in New Castle, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in New Castle is $931/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $620/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $910/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $690/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,270/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($42,219/yr), New Castle ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 11.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in New Castle?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $37,000/year (about $18/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $931/mo in New Castle. The local median household income is $42,219/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in New Castle?

Rent in New Castle has risen 11.4% over the past year.

How does New Castle rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

New Castle is one of the more affordable among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #156 of 161 tracked cities at $931/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in New Castle changed +11.4%, against a typical +3.6% across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than New Castle?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than New Castle ($931/mo) include Rochester ($879/mo).
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $931/mo, rent takes ~26% of New Castle's median household income ($42,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

New Castle 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.07%
Run the New Castle affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in New Castle
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near New Castle, PA

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