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Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in New Castle, DE?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 56.3% of gross income.

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

New Castle median rent
$1,747/mo
Waiter or Waitress salary (Delaware)
$37,261/yr
Rent as % of income
56.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $3,105, and the 30% rule supports up to $932/mo in rent. New Castle's median rent of $1,747 exceeds that threshold by $815/mo, putting a waiter or waitress salary into the rent-burdened range here. A waiter or waitress works roughly 97.5 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a waiter or waitress salary

Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.

Cheaper rent nearby

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

Wilmington, DE
$1,744/mo (56.2% of income)
Wilmington, DE
$1,739/mo (56% of income)
Wilmington, DE
$1,734/mo (55.8% of income)

Compare with full rent data for New Castle

View full rent data for New Castle, DE →

Frequently asked questions

Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in New Castle, DE?

Median rent in New Castle is $1,747 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Delaware earns about $37,261 a year, which makes that rent 56.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in New Castle?

Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Delaware (~$37,261/yr) supports up to $932 a month in rent. New Castle's current median rent is $1,747/mo, which is $815/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in New Castle?

At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Delaware works roughly 97.5 hours a month to cover New Castle's median rent of $1,747.

Where is rent cheaper than New Castle for a waiter or waitress?

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 waiter or waitress 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.