Harrington offers a blend of rural and suburban life in Delaware
The community of Harrington blends a small downtown area and residential streets amid central Delaware’s rolling farmland. It is the home of the Delaware State Fairgrounds, which in turn are the site of the Harrington Casino & Raceway and annual Delaware State Fair. “Harrington is the epitome of a small country town, with a very close-knit community and a distinct downtown,” says Maggie Haass, a co-owner and broker with Burns & Ellis Realtors. “There are lots of major farmers in Delaware that are centered out of Harrington. Its claim to fame is obviously the state fairgrounds, racetrack and casino.”
Despite the bustle of the fairgrounds, locals enjoy quiet living close to U.S. Route 13, which runs through the city. “Harrington is definitely known for its slow pace of life, country living and spaced-out, quieter communities with larger lots,” Haass says. “Agriculture is our biggest industry in southern Delaware, and Harrington is certainly kind of the heart of that.” Many homes are just a few minutes’ drive from local restaurants and markets along Harrington’s downtown strip.
Single-family homes branch off Harrington’s downtown
Residential streets surround downtown Harrington. “It’s almost completely single-family homes,” Haass says. “Downtown Harrington has some cool, historic homes like Victorians, farmhouses and Craftsmans, but outside downtown, there are ranch-style homes, colonial-style homes, contemporary homes and modern farmhouse styles.” Most homes are ranch- or colonial-style and were built after 2000. Prices typically fall between $300,000 and $400,000. “I would say Harrington, relative to other places, is more affordable than some other towns,” Haass says.
Four schools serve students in central Delaware
Students can start at Lake Forest South Elementary School, which receives a B-plus from Niche and serves kindergarten through third grade. Lake Forest South Elementary School was also named a 2024 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act Distinguished School. Lake Forest Central Elementary School garners a B rating for grades four and five, while W.T. Chipman Middle School scores a B-minus. Lake Forest High School receives a B-minus as well.
Area restaurants on and around Route 13
Chain restaurants line Route 13, but for local flavor, residents have a few eateries nearby. Stone’s Bar & Grill and Derby’s Bar & Restaurant each offer classic comfort food, drinks and karaoke nights. Bonz Restaurant & Lounge is part of the Harrington Casino & Raceway, while Rudy’s Family Restaurant and Main Street Café are both near Route 13. “Bonz is a fine-dining steakhouse, but they also have a patio and do live music,” Haass says. “Rudy’s is a famous diner by Byler’s. Main Street Café is really good and has down-home, home-cooked food.”
Next to Rudy’s, Byler’s Store offers more than just groceries. “Byler’s Store is an Amish-run grocery store, but it also has a gift shop and ice cream parlor,” Haass says. “It’s kind of a destination. It’s really cool and pretty famous in Delaware.” Shoppers can also head to a Food Lion in a shopping center along Route 13.
Recreation close to Harrington at county parks
Few parks are in or around Harrington. The City of Harrington Parks & Recreation Department hosts a variety of programs, from exercise classes to youth sports, at its centrally located facility. About 5 miles northeast of town, Brown's Branch County Park covers almost 80 acres of green space with sports fields and courts, a playground and trails. “Brown’s Branch County Park is a Kent County Park,” Haass says. “It’s really, really nice.”
Just south of the city, Selbyville Recreation Park has a baseball field and pickleball courts. About 6 miles from Harrington, Killens Pond State Park encompasses over 1,400 acres and has a variety of amenities, including the Murderkill River Canoe Trail, a water park, miles of trails, a disc golf course and Killens Pond itself, which is popular for fishing and boating.
Route 13 links the city with Dover
With Route 13 running through the middle of Harrington, locals can easily get to one of Delaware’s main thoroughfares. “That’s something that’s really nice,” Haass says. “You can be in Dover in about 20 minutes, or take Route 14 to Milford, which is a little bigger and has more shopping, stores and restaurants.” Milford is about 10 miles east, while Dover is less than 20 miles north. DART buses make stops along Route 13. Bayhealth Hospital’s Kent Campus is under 20 miles north in Dover.
The annual Delaware State Fair draws thousands
The Delaware State Fairgrounds are in southern Harrington and encompass the Harrington Casino & Raceway, which is one of the area’s biggest draws. “People come from all around the country to race their horses there,” Haass says. “They also have stuff there year-round, like conferences, rodeos, horse shows and all types of livestock shows and agricultural events.” Every July, the fairgrounds also host the Delaware State Fair. The event lasts for over a week, draws hundreds of thousands of attendees and features concerts from national acts, contests, carnival rides, food vendors and more. The City of Harrington Parks & Recreation Department also puts on events within the city, including Harrington Heritage Day, which features live music, food vendors and a car show.
