New Castle County: Economy & Jobs
Households in New Castle County earn a median $91,166 (about the same as New Castle County median $91,166; 1.1× higher than Delaware median $84,954), with homes at a median value of $352,200.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $91,166 — above the Delaware median ($76,912). Poverty rate 10.5% (U.S. average ~12.5%).
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $280,600 |
|---|---|
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $25,048,791 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $89,269 (at Delaware median) |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Median Household Income | $91,166 (vs Delaware $76,912) |
| Poverty Rate | 10.5% |
Sources: IRS SOI 2022 — county FIPS · Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — county-level query · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 5.4% — above the U.S. average of ~4%.
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 303,806 |
|---|---|
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $24,405,857,939 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $80,334 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 469,280 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% (vs Delaware 4.1%) |
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
Industry Sectors
Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.
| Agriculture · Total Farms | 76 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 11,305 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 148.80 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Crop Totals, Grain, Poultry Totals, Corn |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 17,672 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 277,909 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 21,191,463 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match
Local Business Mix
Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.
| Local Businesses · Grocery Stores | 111 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Convenience Stores | 67 |
| Local Businesses · Liquor Stores | 156 |
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 101 |
| Local Businesses · Department Stores | 10 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 61 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 49 |
| Local Businesses · Pet Stores | 30 |
Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes
Dining Scene
Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.
| Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants | 439 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 497 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 49 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 125 |
Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722
SNAP & Food Access
USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.
| Total Snap Stores | 447 |
|---|
Spending & Tax
Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).
| Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024 | $3,956,815,045 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 6,933.04 (at Delaware median) |
| Federal Spending · Population | 570,719 people (vs Delaware 13,439) |
Sources: USAspending API