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New Castle, IN

New Castle, IN

New castle indiana from above · Photo: Unknown, Public domain

A town of about 17,367 people in Henry County.

New Castle at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down.

A
Cost
Everyday prices about 11% below the U.S. average (state rural average)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
A
Housing
Typical home value is about 2.4 times the typical household's yearly income ($154,400 vs $63,150)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
D
Getting around
Average commute 26 minutes; 3% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
D
Things to do
42 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 86 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
D
Outdoors
1 hiking trails, 28 campgrounds and 16 paddling spots nearby
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data
B
Jobs
Unemployment 3.7% (U.S.: 5.2%)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
D
Social life
17 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 35 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
C
Healthcare
0.4 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 2 miles from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
D
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 3 points below the state average (17 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
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What kind of place it is

Artsy

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when New Castle scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Artsy
88 / 100
4 museums, art galleries and theater companies in the area

Less so: growing, historic, lively, big-city feel.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

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Around New Castle

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
New Castle
New Castle in Indiana
Indiana in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of New Castle's center.

5
grocery stores
16
restaurants
5
coffee shops
9
parks
11
playgrounds
1
library
2
movie theaters
2
museums
1
bookstore
1
gym
2
bars
2
pharmacies
1
hospital

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of New Castle.
Costco
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 34 miles
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 36 miles
BJ's Wholesale Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 36 miles
Trader Joe's
Nearest about 37 miles
Whole Foods Market
Nearest about 41 miles
Target
Nearest about 21 miles
Aldi
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 1 mile
Not within 50 miles: Wegmans, Sprouts Farmers Market.
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of New Castle.

Bike lanes and bike paths
13 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
8.4 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
0
Bus stops within 5 miles
0
Nearest train station
None within 30 miles

No public bus or train stops show up within 5 miles of the center of New Castle, so most trips here likely need a car.

U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Henry County Memorial Hospital in New Castle, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

Henry County Memorial Hospital
New Castle, IN · about 2 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 4 of 5
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital
Muncie, IN · about 19 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Ascension St Vincent Anderson
Anderson, IN · about 20 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 2 of 5
Rush Memorial Hospital
Rushville, IN · about 21 miles
Small rural hospital · Emergency room
No Medicare star rating
In the county, compared with Indiana and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.4
per 1,000 people · Indiana: 0.7 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
0.4
per 1,000 people · Indiana: 0.6 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
1.1
per 1,000 people · Indiana: 2.1 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
7.2%
Indiana: 8.2% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 2,549 rented homes in New Castle, 100% rent for under $2,000 a month and 100% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 80%
$1,000 to $1,499: 18%
$1,500 to $1,999: 2%
$2,000 to $2,499: 0%
$2,500 to $2,999: 0%
$3,000 or more: 0%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in New Castle rents for under $1,000 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about under $2,000 for first month plus a deposit, or up to under $3,000 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For rent under $1,000, that's a yearly income of about under $36,000.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to Indiana: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the Indiana DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: Indiana voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

5 public school districts in this county, with about 6,734 students in all. The county also has 2 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Blue River Valley Elementary SchBlue River Valley Jr-Sr High SchKnightstown High SchoolKnightstown Intermediate SchoolKnightstown Elementary SchoolJames Whitcomb Riley Elem SchoolNew Castle Middle SchoolNew Castle High SchoolWestwood Elementary SchoolWilbur Wright Elementary SchoolEastwood Elementary SchoolParker Elementary SchoolShenandoah High SchoolShenandoah Middle SchoolShenandoah Elementary SchoolTri Junior-Senior High SchoolTri Elementary SchoolAgape Learning Center (private)Heartland Christian School (private)WAYNE COUNTYHENRY COUNTYMADISON COUNTYHANCOCK COUNTYNew Castle
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of New Castle: New Castle Community School Corporation
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of New Castle

Elementary
Parker Elementary School0.4 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 5 · 285 students · 15 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 25 to 29% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Eastwood Elementary School0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 6 · 280 students · 11.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 35 to 39% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School1.3 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 6 · 253 students · 14.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 55 to 59% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Middle
New Castle Middle School0.6 mi
Public
grades 6 to 8 · 633 students · 11.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 17% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Eastwood Elementary School0.7 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 6 · 280 students · 11.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 35 to 39% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School1.3 mi
Public
grades Pre-K to 6 · 253 students · 14.9 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 55 to 59% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
High school
New Castle High School0.6 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 824 students · 13.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 20 to 24% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Blue River Valley Jr-Sr High Sch6.1 mi
Public
grades 7 to 12 · 297 students · 12.4 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 15 to 19% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Tri Junior-Senior High School6.1 mi
Public
grades 6 to 12 · 460 students · 13.5 per teacher
Passed the state test: math 22% (state: reading 41%, math 38%)
Private
Agape Learning Center1.4 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to K · 10 students · 10 per teacher
Heartland Christian School4.2 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 174 students · 10.9 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of New Castle, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on Indiana's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

New Castle Community School Corp · New Castle
2,939 students · 12 students per teacher · 9 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Blue River Valley Schools · New Castle
642 students · 13.7 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
Shenandoah School Corporation · Middletown
1,332 students · 16 students per teacher · 3 schools · grades Pre-K to 12

School choice and pre-K in Indiana

Going to school in another district
State law lets each district decide whether to take students from other districts. Some do, some don't; ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
Indiana runs pre-K with income or work requirements; the national report doesn't count it alongside other states.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in Indiana

Federal rating for the state: Meets requirements
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates Indiana as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read Indiana's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

Indiana keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Search licensed childcare in Indiana →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).
The facts behind it
Median home value
$95,100
What owners in New Castle say their homes are worth, middle value. A survey estimate, not sale prices.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey, town level), 2019 to 2023
Cost of living
About 11% below the U.S. average
For the parts of IN outside metro areas as a whole: everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $89 for what costs $100 nationally. No price index exists for single small towns.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 88.7 (U.S. = 100), rural IN, 2024
Average commute
20 minutes one way
How long New Castle residents' trips to work take on average, not counting people who work from home. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey, town level), 2019 to 2023
Unemployment
5.7%
The share of New Castle residents looking for work who couldn't find it, from a survey averaged over five years. U.S.: about 5% on this survey.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey, town level), 2019 to 2023
Data centers nearby
None within 15 miles
No mapped data center buildings near the town center.
Source: PNNL IM3 Data Center Atlas, from OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Homeowners insurance
About $2,887 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in IN. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
1 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
Fewer than 10 a year
The CDC doesn't publish exact counts under 10. IN average: 19 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 7 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 4,860 people without housing in the Indiana Balance of State area (92 counties): 3,659 in shelters and 1,201 outside, up from 4,584 in 2024. IN: 9.6 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$60,144
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.75% of home value a year
About $750 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Flat 2.95%
IN's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026
Local income tax
2.02%
2.02% county income tax (Henry County). This is on top of the state income tax.

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