Milton is a growing town known for beer, theater and beach access
Located on the Broadkill River about 15 miles from Rehoboth Beach, Milton is a growing Delaware town with a flourishing theater, highly rated schools and the headquarters of Dogfish Head Brewery. “Dogfish Head’s motto is ‘off-centered beer for off-centered people,’ and that describes us pretty well,” says Benjamin Steward, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Premier who’s lived in the area for around 15 years. “It has a good lifestyle in the sense that there's a theater that does 250 productions a year, and we've now got four or five good restaurants. And we’ve got the beach — Lewes and Rehoboth are nearby.”
Older homes in town, new developments on the outskirts
Milton’s oldest homes are in its town center, where colorful colonial, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival houses were built as early as the 1800s. These sit close together along sidewalk-lined streets and are surrounded by mature trees and flowering shrubs. There are also several townhouse communities here that were built in the 2000s and 2010s. “Delaware was a quiet little place until 2000, and then developers came in and started developing neighborhoods for people who are 55-plus and want to retire. As a result, things have really grown,” Steward says. Most newer developments are outside of town, where suburban-style subdivisions feature Craftsman-inspired new traditional homes. The median home sale price in Milton is around $510,000, higher than the national median of roughly $400,000. Some beachfront homes are available in the Broadkill Beach area; these can cost up to $2 million.
Kids are zoned for A-rated public schools
Kids can attend schools in the Cape Henlopen School District, which earns an A from Niche. Milton is zoned for two elementary schools: the A-minus-rated H.O. Brittingham Elementary and the A-rated Milton Elementary. Mariner Middle and Cape Henlopen High both earn an A-minus. High schoolers can enroll in arts-based career pathways like music and theater or take vocational courses in topics like robotics, accounting and agricultural science.
Restaurants, entertainment and shopping in Milton’s town center
Milton’s town center is the area’s commercial core. Dogfish Head’s Milton Brewery makes beers and canned cocktails that are shipped to all 50 states. The tasting room here has over 40 beverages on tap and serves pizza and sandwiches. The brewery also hosts regular live music and weekly events like trivia and bingo. Po’ Boys Creole Restaurant offers a taste of New Orleans in a casual atmosphere, and Zava Café serves locally sourced meals with an upscale vibe. The Milton Theatre entertains the community with plays, music and live music. The venue also hosts Milton Pride each June, a one-day event with food trucks, performances and vendors. The area around the theater has some locally owned stores, but most retailers are in the town’s north, such as Food Lion and Walgreens.
Rivers, ponds and beaches for water recreation
Milton Memorial Park in the town center has a playground, benches overlooking the Broadkill River and a boat ramp where kayakers can access the water. Wagamons Pond is known for its bass fishing, and it also has a boat launch. Kids can join Milton Little League and play games at baseball fields on the town’s north side. Just outside of town, the over 140-acre Edward H. McCabe Preserve has hiking trails through meadows and along the river. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge has over 10,000 acres of marshes with trails that are popular for birdwatching. Broadkill Beach is on Delaware Bay and has private and public beach access. Rehoboth Beach, which is on the Atlantic Ocean, is around 30 minutes away.
Many routes to surrounding towns
State Route 1, also called the Coastal Highway, and Broadkill Road are the area’s main thoroughfares. Georgetown, Lewes and Milford are all within 13 miles. Delaware’s DART bus system has routes to surrounding towns. Many of the area’s roads are bike friendly. Houses of worship include The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist and Eagle’s Nest Church. Bayhealth Hospital’s Sussex Campus is roughly 10 miles away. Salisbury Regional Airport, which has flights to Philadelphia and Charlotte, is a 39-mile trip.
Flooding and hurricane risk near the coast
Homes east of the Coastal Highway are at risk for flooding, particularly from hurricane storm surge. Residents here might be required to evacuate during severe storms. To the west, homes near the Broadkill River and its tributaries are also at risk for flooding. “The town is 25 to 30 feet above sea level,” Steward says. “We’ve never had a hurricane in the 15 years I've been here.”
Written By
Annie Franklin
