Question 1

Is New Castle, DE or Wilmington, DE cheaper to buy in?

Accepted Answer

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. The median home price in New Castle, DE is approximately $229,300 and in Wilmington, DE it is approximately $166,300 — a difference of $63,000.

Question 2

Is New Castle, DE or Wilmington, DE safer?

Accepted Answer

New Castle, DE scores higher on safety. New Castle, DE has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated Moderate. Wilmington, DE has violent crime rated Moderate and property crime rated High.

Question 3

Is New Castle, DE or Wilmington, DE more walkable?

Accepted Answer

Wilmington, DE is more walkable. New Castle, DE has a Walk Score of N/A/100 and Wilmington, DE has a Walk Score of 38/100.

Question 4

Which has better schools, New Castle, DE or Wilmington, DE?

Accepted Answer

Wilmington, DE has higher-rated schools. New Castle, DE has a school rating of 7.5/10 and Wilmington, DE has a rating of 7.6/10.

Question 5

Should I live in New Castle, DE or Wilmington, DE?

Accepted Answer

If you're willing to drive and prioritize affordability, Wilmington might be a better fit for you, especially if you're on a very tight budget. However, if you value a suburban lifestyle and don't need to be in the city center, New Castle is a more reliable choice with safer communities and better schools. Ultimately, consider New Castle for quiet, family-friendly living, and Wilmington for very budget-conscious city living.

Category	New Castle, DE	Wilmington, DE
Housing
Verdict	Good for now	Think twice
Median Price	$229K	$166K ✓ Lower price
Median Rent	$1K	$1K ✓ Lower rent
Median Income	$72K ✓ Higher income	$42K
Price Volatility	Moderate	Low ✓ More stable
Getting Around
Walk Score	Car-dependent	38/100 ✓ More walkable
Transit Score	1/100	14/100 ✓ Better transit
Bike Score	1/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	30 min	N/A
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+ ✓ Safer	F
Violent Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Property Crime	Moderate ✓ Lower risk	High
Flood Risk	Low	Low
Air Quality	Good ✓ Cleaner air	Moderate
Community
Schools	7.5/10	7.6/10 ✓ Better schools
Best for	Families looking for a quiet suburban feelCommuters to Wilmington or nearby citiesFirst‑time home buyers seeking affordability	Budget rentersFamilies seeking good schoolsCar commuters

New Castle, DE vs Wilmington, DE

Bottom line