East New Market offers rural living, history and access to Salisbury
The small rural town of East New Market has a unique history spanning centuries on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In the 19th century, it was a prominent train depot along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Though commercial development has slowed in the decades since, it retains vast farmland with a blend of historic properties, and new construction custom homes. Save for a select few businesses in town, locals mostly shop in nearby towns across Dorchester County. Commuters can also reach jobs in Easton and Salisbury along U.S. Route 50 in under an hour.
Historic and new construction single-family homes
Cape Cods and Colonial Revivals line the narrow, small-town streets around the community. The median sale price for a single-family home in East New Market is $351,000, with prices varying by square footage, lot size and age. Buyers can find various new construction custom homes and ramblers on acre-sized lots in the outlying farmland beyond East New Market. Most of the town’s historic, preserved homes are along South Main Street, including the Daffin-Mitchell House, a brick colonial-style home built in 1793.
Nearby Dorchester County schools
Dorchester County Public Schools is the main district serving East New Market. Students can attend Warwick Elementary School, which has a B-rating on Niche, while North Dorchester Middle School gets a C-plus rating and North Dorchester High has a B-minus rating. Niche ranks Warwick Elementary as the second-best elementary school in Dorchester County and the school offers a Gifted and Talented program to foster academic growth.
Nearby access to Warwick River and nature hikes at Linkwood WMA
The nearby town of Secretary hosts a boat ramp where people can take motorboats on Warwick River for a pleasure cruise or a fishing trip. Linkwood State Wildlife Management Area is south of East New Market and stretches across 313 acres of Dorchester County forestland. Though hunting white-tailed deer and squirrels is allowed in appropriate seasons, visitors can also hike along miles of trails and go birdwatching.
Locals eat at Johnny's and shop in neighboring Cambridge
Only a handful of businesses are available in town, so locals usually head to nearby commercial hubs in larger nearby towns like Cambridge . “East New Market only has a Dollar General, a deli and a local bar with fabulous food,” says Mary Mabry, an Eastern Shore native and 23-year real estate agent with Keller Williams Select Realtors of Annapolis. Johnny’s Tavern is the community hangout, offering drinks and a full menu of pub grub, including pizza, wings and crab dip. The tavern also features live music and events like music bingo and trivia nights. Though residents can grab sandwiches and convenience items from Hometown Pride Market & Deli, most people head to Cambridge, a few miles west. In Cambridge, most businesses cluster along U.S. Route 50, including a Walmart and Aldi for groceries, several fast-food chains and a Goodwill.
Historic churches around town
A popular saying around East New Market is that nobody can enter the town without passing a church or leave without passing two churches. A church stands at each of the town’s four entrance roads, some with centuries-old history. Faith Community United Methodist Church has been a local institution since 1844. One of the church’s first preachers, Reverend Samuel Green, worked as part of the Underground Railroad and helped Harriet Tubman in guiding enslaved African Americans to freedom. To this day, the church is part of the Harriet Tubman Byway, a tour of historical sites across Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Salisbury or Easton in half an hour
Due to the secluded atmosphere of East New Market, locals are car-dependent. “It’s an easy commute for Salisbury or Easton workers,” says Mabry. “Lots of folks jump on 50 and take it north or south.” Salisbury is 29 miles south along Route 50, and locals can catch a flight from Salisbury Regional Airport. Easton is 20 miles north of town, and commutes take about half an hour depending on traffic.
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Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
