The Town FilesNew Castle, Pennsylvania
City in Lawrence County · population 21,926 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $77,400
- Household income
- $42,219
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 39.5
New Castle is a city of 21,926 people in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $77,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 88% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.
How New Castle ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Castle is worth $77,400, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $42,219, which is more affordable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 54.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Castle | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $77,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $741 | $996 |
| Median household income | $42,219 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1944 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in New Castle
| People | New Castle | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.0% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in New Castle
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 41.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.5 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Castle since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 8, 1992 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 3, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 14, 2024.
Severe weather in Lawrence County since 1996
Lawrence County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 1, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4149: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Lawrence County
Lawrence County had 26,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,927 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in New Castle itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Public schools in New Castle
18 public schools with 8,560 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry W Lockley Early Learning Center | K-2 | 778 | 15.3 |
| New Castle SHS | 9-12 | 732 | 15.6 |
| Washington Intrmd Sch | 3-5 | 706 | 14.7 |
| Mohawk El Sch | K-5 | 685 | 15.2 |
| New Castle JHS | 6-8 | 681 | 17.0 |
| Neshannock Memorial El Sch | K-6 | 671 | 15.6 |
| Neshannock JSHS | 7-12 | 523 | 15.4 |
| Shenango El Sch | K-6 | 509 | 12.7 |
| Laurel El Sch | K-6 | 499 | 15.6 |
| Mohawk SHS | 9-12 | 434 | 14.0 |
| Shenango HS | 7-12 | 434 | 11.7 |
| Lawrence County Career and Technical Center | 9-12 | 394 | 12.7 |
Towns near New Castle
- Union, PA2.7 mi · 4,996 people · home $119,100
- Neshannock, PA3.8 mi · 9,843 people · home $212,100
- Shenango, PA4.0 mi · 7,133 people · home $169,100
- North Beaver, PA6.0 mi · 3,962 people · home $174,500
- Slippery Rock, PA6.9 mi · 2,913 people · home $190,600
- Mahoning, PA7.2 mi · 2,708 people · home $134,500
- Wilmington, PA7.9 mi · 2,663 people · home $238,200
- Pulaski, PA8.8 mi · 3,102 people · home $158,300
New Castle questions
Is New Castle, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Castle scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 8%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in New Castle?
The median owner-occupied home in New Castle is valued at $77,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,219, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in New Castle?
July highs average 85.9°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.8 inches of precipitation a year and 27.5 inches of snow.
Does New Castle get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Castle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 8, 1992. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)