Fair Market Rents: New Castle County, DE (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for New Castle County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | DE median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $1,397/mo | $1,158 (+21%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,520/mo | $1,165 (+30%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,810/mo | $1,470 (+23%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,170/mo | $2,044 (+6%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $2,423/mo | $2,285 (+6%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in DE. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in New Castle County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in New Castle County
We track 136 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Claymont | 5 | 819 |
| Middletown | 7 | 375 |
| New Castle | 11 | 717 |
| Newark | 25 | 1,743 |
| Wilmington | 98 | 6,192 |