Real Estate Investing in New Castle, Pennsylvania (16101)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Lawrence County • Population: 30,960 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16101 (New Castle, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in New Castle, PA (16101)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $125,361
Avg Monthly Rent $957
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,896
% Renters 32.1%

Market Analysis: 16101 New Castle

The 16101 ZIP covers a section of New Castle that demands careful diligence. Prices near $125K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $125K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 16101 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 16101 among PA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Resident income in 16101 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in New Castle:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $957/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
New Castle, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from New Castle, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 16101

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
8.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$20,861/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $59,802 $740 8.9% +7.5% $59,802
2BR $95,844 $970 7.3% +7.4% $47,922
3BR $135,767 $1,350 7.2% +6.0% $45,256
4BR $146,828 $1,530 7.5% +5.9% $36,707
5BR $104,304 +6.0% $20,861

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$130K$116K$102K$87K$73K$59KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,184$1,093$1,001$910$818$727Apr 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16101 Compare?

Metric 16101 New Castle New Castle, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $125,361 $155,332 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $957 $944 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.0% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16101? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 16101 (New Castle, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on New Castle, PA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
53%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $125,361
Monthly Rent $957
Price-to-Rent 10.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.2%
Cap Rate 6.0%
5-Year IRR 11.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16101

Population: 30,960

💰 Median Household Income
$46,896
This area
$46,896
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.1%
This area
32.1%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.7%
This area
18.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.2 years
This area
44.2 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.4%
Black/African American 7.9%
Other/Mixed 7.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.1%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 16101

A Avg School Grade
12 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$20,970 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Shenango HS

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,031 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Laurel HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,696 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Shenango El Sch

📚 K – 06 School
👥
509 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,031 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Union Memorial El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,300 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Union Area HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
203 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,300 Per Student
A Very Good

Harry W Lockley Early Learning Center

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
778 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,873 Per Student
A Very Good

New Castle JHS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
681 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,873 Per Student
A Very Good

New Castle SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
732 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,873 Per Student
A Very Good

Laurel El Sch

📚 K – 06 School
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,696 Per Student
A Very Good

Union Area MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
161 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,300 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lawrence County Career and Technical Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
B Good

Laurel MS

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
163 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,696 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

6 Nearby 167 Off-Campus Students
C
Butler Beauty Academy-New Castle Beauty Academy
30 students · 2.9 mi
D
UPMC Jameson School of Nursing
332 students · 4.3 mi
C
New Castle School of Trades
623 students · 6.8 mi
C
Westminster College
1,203 students · 9.4 mi
C+
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
8,350 students · 13.6 mi
C+
Geneva College
1,258 students · 15.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in New Castle, PA?

Vacancy in New Castle, PA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $957/mo.

What is the median home value in New Castle, PA?

The median home value in New Castle, PA is roughly $125K. That puts it reasonable relative to the PA statewide average.

Is New Castle in PA worth investing in?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in New Castle, PA reflects its $125K prices and $957/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within PA.

Are landlord laws favorable in New Castle, PA?

PA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and New Castle inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What is the best play in New Castle, PA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in New Castle, PA. With home values at $125K and rents near $957/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

You know 16101 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 16101 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 16101 ranks in New Castle, PA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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