New Castle County Crime & Safety

New Castle County, Delaware

Safety Score

12/100

Higher = safer

Safety Rating

High Crime

Total Crime Rate

2598.1

per 100K population

Crime Statistics

Violent Crime Rate

413.8

per 100K population

National avg 380.7

Property Crime Rate

2184.3

per 100K population

National avg 1954.4

Safety Score

12/100

Higher = safer

State avg 16/100

State Safety Rank

of 3 counties (1 = safest)

Data Story

About Crime & Safety in New Castle County, Delaware

New Castle County safety trends near national levels

New Castle County earns a safety score of 95.9, indicating a stable environment for its residents. The total crime rate of 2,598.1 per 100K remains slightly higher than the national average of 2,385.5. Local statistics are compiled from 17 different reporting agencies across the county.

New Castle holds middle ground in Delaware safety

Ranking second among Delaware's three counties, New Castle sits near the state's safety average of 96.2. Its total crime rate of 2,598.1 per 100K is higher than the state average of 2,392.4. This reflects the challenges of policing the state's most populous and urbanized region.

New Castle remains safer than neighboring Kent

New Castle County's crime rate of 2,598.1 per 100K is lower than Kent County's rate of 2,734.1. However, it still sees considerably more crime than Sussex County to the south. These figures show a clear safety gradient that decreases as you move further south in Delaware.

Property crime drives most local incidents

The county reports 413.8 violent crimes per 100K, which is slightly above the national average of 369.8. Property crime is more prevalent, with 2,184.3 incidents per 100K compared to 2,015.7 nationally. Most reported incidents involve theft or burglary rather than person-to-person violence.

Proactive security for New Castle residents

With property crime rates above national benchmarks, home security is a wise investment for New Castle residents. Smart cameras and motion-activated lights serve as effective deterrents against local theft. Staying informed about neighborhood activity helps keep the whole community safer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the crime rate in New Castle County, DE?

New Castle County has a total crime rate of 2598.1 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (413.8 per 100K) and property crimes (2184.3 per 100K).

Is New Castle County, DE safe?

New Castle County has a safety score of 12/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #2 out of 3 counties in Delaware for safety (1 = safest).

How does New Castle County crime compare to the Delaware average?

What types of crime are most common in New Castle County?

How is crime data measured and reported for New Castle County?

Crime data for New Castle County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

What is being done about crime in New Castle County?

New Castle County has a safety score of 12/100, which is below the Delaware average of 16/100. Many counties with above-average crime rates invest in community policing, crime prevention programs, neighborhood watch initiatives, and social services aimed at reducing crime over time.