City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

New Castle, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for New Castle - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

21,727
Residents
$41,478
Median income
$72,000
Median home
$1,023
Median rent (state)

New Castle - the verdict

New Castle ranks in the 9th percentile for household income and the 59th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

9th
percentile, household income
2nd
percentile, home value
22nd
percentile, median rent
59th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: New Castle, PA

Pennsylvania's New Castle is a small city, with 21,727 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in New Castle brings in $41,478 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 18.9%. Home values in New Castle run a median of $72,000, and the median resident age is 37.7 years. Educational attainment runs 15.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in New Castle (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. New Castle reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1119.9 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 51.1°F with 41.8 inches of precipitation per year and 27.5 inches of snowfall.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,023 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Pennsylvania's average monthly utility costs around $260 (state average). Commute times here average 19.5 minutes, with 75.4% driving alone and 9.3% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 66.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

21,727 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$41,478 /yr

Poverty 18.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does New Castle compare to other US cities?

Where New Castle sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 2% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% pricier than other cities
Safety 59% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Pennsylvania and the picture shifts: New Castle ranks #247 of 402 Pennsylvania cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below New Castle's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

9thIncome percentile
59thSafety percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income · 59th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

New Castle's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

New Castle's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 52 Avg. percentile National median
New Castle's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How New Castle's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$72,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 98% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. New Castle $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - New Castle, PA New Castle, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not New Castle, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution New Castle, PA median $41,478/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
New Castle, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for New Castle, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
21,727
Median Income
$41,478
Median Home Value
$72,000
Median Age
37.7
Poverty Rate
18.9%
Labor force participation
45.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1119.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
84.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1035.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.1°F
Annual Precipitation
41.8"
Annual Snowfall
27.5"

Schools

Total Schools
18
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
21,000 residents21,500 residents22,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 21,891 residents 21,175 residents ▼ -3.3%
New Castle's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 1
2021 1
2022 1
2023 1
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.5 minutes
Drive Alone
75.4%
Carpool
11.2%
Public Transit
1.7%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
9.3%

Based on 7,621 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county New Castle sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,023/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
66.1 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Chambersburg
22,051 people
Allison Park
22,108 people
Carlisle
21,335 people
Baldwin
21,159 people
Murrysville
20,839 people
Pottstown
23,392 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to New Castle's 21,727 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Yucca Valley, CA
21,744 people
Harvey, LA
21,710 people
Selden, NY
21,707 people
American Canyon, CA
21,698 people
Port Hueneme, CA
21,691 people
Holiday, FL
21,768 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to New Castle's $41,478 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Fremont, NC
$41,477 median income
Knox City, TX
$41,477 median income
Mackay, ID
$41,474 median income
Centerville, IA
$41,472 median income
Coldwater, MS
$41,484 median income
Bastian, VA
$41,490 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - New Castle, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition New Castle, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.0% 10.6% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.9% White 77.0% Black or African American 10.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.3% Two or more races 10.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How New Castle compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
New Castle (this city) 21,727 $41,478
Chambersburg 22,051 $56,177
Allison Park 22,108 $108,669
Carlisle 21,335 $59,742
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about New Castle, PA?

What is the population of New Castle, PA? +

21,727 people live in New Castle, PA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in New Castle, PA? +

In New Castle, the typical household earns $41,478 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in New Castle? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for New Castle; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

Is New Castle, PA safe? +

New Castle has a total crime rate of 1119.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in New Castle, PA? +

The median home value in New Castle is $72,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in New Castle? +

Climate normals put New Castle's yearly average temperature at 51.1°F, 41.8 inches of precipitation, and 27.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.