Can A Retail Salesperson Afford Rent in New Castle, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 55.4% of gross income.

New Castle rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Delaware state estimate).

New Castle median rent
$1,747/mo
Retail Salesperson salary (Delaware)
$37,811/yr
Rent as % of income
55.4%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,151, and the 30% rule supports up to $945/mo in rent. New Castle's median rent of $1,747 exceeds that threshold by $802/mo, putting a retail salesperson salary into the rent-burdened range here. A retail salesperson works roughly 96.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a retail salesperson salary

Retail pay sits below the rent threshold needed for solo apartment living in most US metros, which is the central tension behind the widely studied retail-housing affordability gap. At the national-average retail salary, the 30% rule supports about $927 a month in rent — below the median one-bedroom rent in nearly every metro tracked here. The per-city pages show which markets are least out of reach.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Delaware cities have lower median rent than New Castle, which improves the affordability math on a retail salesperson salary:

Wilmington, DE
$1,744/mo (55.3% of income)
Wilmington, DE
$1,739/mo (55.2% of income)
Wilmington, DE
$1,734/mo (55% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Castle

View full rent data for New Castle, DE

Frequently asked questions

Can a retail salesperson afford rent in New Castle, DE?

Median rent in New Castle is $1,747 a month. A typical retail salesperson in Delaware earns about $37,811 a year, which makes that rent 55.4% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a retail salesperson afford in New Castle?

Using the 30% rule, a retail salesperson salary in Delaware (~$37,811/yr) supports up to $945 a month in rent. New Castle's current median rent is $1,747/mo, which is $802/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a retail salesperson work to cover rent in New Castle?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a retail salesperson in Delaware works roughly 96.1 hours a month to cover New Castle's median rent of $1,747.

Where is rent cheaper than New Castle for a retail salesperson?

Nearby Delaware cities with lower median rent include Wilmington ($1,744/mo), Wilmington ($1,739/mo), Wilmington ($1,734/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a retail salesperson salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Delaware state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for New Castle, DE. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.