Ellwood City, PA vs New Castle, PA

New Castle is moderately more affordable than Ellwood City, with a 13.5% lower cost of living index. Ellwood City scores 68 compared to 60 for New Castle, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Ellwood City can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Ellwood City is $836/month compared to $698/month in New Castle — a 20% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: New Castle is more affordable at $72,000 median vs $120,400.

Median household income in Ellwood City is $62,266 compared to $41,478 in New Castle (+50.1%). While Ellwood City is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Ellwood City spend roughly 16.1% of their income on rent, less than the 20.2% in New Castle.