A city’s downtown centered around the University of Delaware
Newark makes up much of northern Delaware, ranking as the third-most populated city in the state. With parts of the city lying on the state’s boundaries between Maryland and Pennsylvania, the downtown area is surrounded by a network of subdivisions and neighborhoods convenient to Interstate 95, which runs right through the region. “Newark is a great location for ease of access to some of the most important things, like shopping and entertainment,” says Ingram Foster, a team lead and salesperson with the Bryan Realty Group. “There’s sought-after neighborhoods in Delaware and the Newark area. Those are the biggest things, and obviously the campus for the University of Delaware being right there is very attractive for a lot of reasons.”
The university sits right in the city and serves as a major presence in the area, in terms of both students and employment. Once the weather turns autumnal and the leaves change colors and cover the ground, it’s a popular gathering spot for Delaware Blue Hens football games at Delaware Stadium. The team counts longtime NFL quarterback Joe Flacco, who won Super Bowl XLVII and the game's MVP award with the Baltimore Ravens, among its alumni. “Every Saturday, this time of year, there’s football most weekends when the University of Delaware has games,” Foster says. “It’s a very walkable town – down on Main Street and, obviously, on campus.” The population in Newark is around 30,000.
Those looking to be right in the middle of all the action can check out Downtown Newark.
Newark residents come out to support the Blue Hens at University of Delaware football games.
Rooted on Main in Newark features local goods and unique gifts right downtown.
Delaware Stadium hosts the Fightin' Blue Hens in Downtown Newark.
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A major university presence
Students in the Newark area can attend schools within the Christina School District, which takes its name from the river winding its way close to the city. The district encompasses 21 elementary schools, 9 middle schools and 6 high schools, garnering a C-plus with Niche. The University of Delaware’s main campus sits in Newark as well, enrolling a student population of over 24,000 as of the fall of 2023. Its art history program is ranked in the top 3% nationwide for research.
The university staff, which numbers over 1,000, means it also serves as a major employer for the area. “The university is absolutely a major employer,” Foster says. “That’s a big draw. When you talk about travel from the Newark area, which is a more quiet, comfortable area for most people, there’s a lot of neighborhoods that are walkable off the main roads. A lot of people like to live in those areas and then commute.” The Blue Hens athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I.
Students at University of Delaware spend time outside on a nice early spring day.
University of Delaware's massive campus is just minutes from Northern Newark.
Eastern Newark is not far from the University of Delaware.
Catch a game at Delaware Stadium in Newark to cheer on the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.
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Single-family homes abound across Newark
Housing prices in Newark have mostly remained steady over the course of the past year. The current median selling price of $359,400 is under the national median of $416,700, and many properties are concentrated in and around the downtown area. Inventory is low in the region, and it is considered a seller’s market. “Newark itself has actually been very, very sought-after for a long time, but these past four years or so, it’s been next to impossible for people to purchase there,” Foster says. “The market itself is pretty tenacious for good properties, and there is still a significant shortage of those properties right now in the Newark area. A lot of homes have been appreciating pretty significantly since then. It’s a very desirable area.”
The region is primarily comprised of single-family properties, mostly built between 1950 and 2000, but a number of townhouses are concentrated in the southeastern part of Newark. The median price for townhouses is similar to the residential homes, and costs for them often range between $250,000 and $350,000. “Delaware’s a hub of banking industry because of a lot of tax breaks, so it does employ a lot of people in that industry,” Foster says.
Newark also experiences all four seasons through the year, with cold winters and warm summers. Its average annual rainfall of 45 inches exceeds the national mean of 38, while snowfall is below average.
Single family homes on sizable lots are among the most common home types in Newark.
Classic American four square homes can be found on the residential streets of Newark.
Tudor homes in Newark bring a lot of character to the area.
Dutch colonial homes in Newark are hard to miss with their gambrel roofs.
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Delaware’s largest mall sits on the east side
The Christiana Mall is the largest shopping complex in the entire state, located near the east side of Newark. Less than 10 miles from downtown, residents can find nearly 200 stores within its walls, the most notable of which include Target and Macy’s. Shoppers also peruse the shelves of Barnes & Noble or Hollister, catch a movie at the mall’s Cinemark or grab food at restaurants like Tommy’s Tavern + Tap and the Cheesecake Factory. Close to the Christiana Mall, there’s a Trader Joe’s in the Christiana Fashion Center.
Closer to downtown, there are a number of restaurants and the Newark Shopping Center centered around East Main Street. Convenient to the university’s campus, the district also includes the Co-op Farmers Market, which is one of the closest grocery stops. “Downtown Newark and the University of Delaware campus have a significant mix of great food, great cafes, great restaurants, boutiques and things like that,” Foster says. “The farmers market has a lot of really good, fresh produce and a lot of sought-after Asian ingredients – good-quality stuff.” Two ShopRite locations also sit south of the downtown area.
Christiana Mall features nearly 200 stores in Newark, making it the largest mall in the state.
Residents of Newark enjoy grabbing lunch at the popular food court in Christiana Mall.
Catch a matinee at Cinemark in Newark, which features an IMAX theater.
Main Street features a variety of restaurants including Klondike Kates.
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Local markets and farms
Besides Delaware Blue Hens football games, residents of Newark have other options to get out and about over the course of the year. At Glasgow Regional Park, which sits about 7 miles south of the university’s campus, a weekly farmers market is a local favorite. “Glasgow has grown recently,” Foster says. “What started out to just be monthly in the summer has expanded to be more regular. It’s a more traditional, pop-up kind of farmers market – there’s handmade trinkets, clothing, produce, foods and whatnot.” The market is open Thursday afternoons while in season, which runs from the summer through October.
Milburn Orchards is another popular destination once fall arrives. Though it’s in Maryland, it’s just across the state line and about 4 miles from downtown Newark. “A lot of Delawarians make their way to Milburn Orchards for ciders, apples, donuts and pumpkins,” Foster says. “It’s an autumn extravaganza. There’s a petting zoo and people really like the cider donuts.” The farm also offers tours, seasonal events from the spring through the holidays and more. Visitors to Sky Zone Trampoline Park can take programs or play freestyle on its bouncy interior.
Kids can enjoy the petting zoo at Milburn Orchards, just outside of Newark.
Pick up fresh produce from Newark Natural Foods Co-op, it being the only location in Delaware.
The Food Bank of Delaware attends Glasgow Park Farmers Market selling fresh produce.
Check off your grocery list at Trader Joe's in Newark.
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Preserves, smaller parks and sports courses
The Newark area is littered with tracts of green spaces throughout, but the most prominent recreational areas sit to the north and south of the downtown area. To the north, White Clay Creek State Park spans nearly 4,000 acres. “That encompasses most of the northwestern quadrant of Delaware and a lot of Newark,” Foster says. “There’s a lot of hiking, a creek that runs through there and a lot of cool things to do in there. There’s a couple golf courses close by and people walk that all the time.”
The Middle Run Valley Natural Area is also lined with miles of trails and the Deerfield Golf Club offers an 18-hole course to golfers. Both are located north of Newark. South of downtown, the Sunset Lake Preserve sits around the body of water it gets its moniker from, and some other, smaller parks are scattered in southern Newark as well. “One of my personal favorites is Iron Hill, which has a very nice park and it’s walkable,” Foster says. “It’s got some fun things there. It’s also got a nice disc golf course that’s hosted major tournaments.”
Book a tee time at Deerfield, a beautiful 18 hole golf course right in Newark.
Middle Run Valley Nature Area is a popular destination for mountain biking in Newark.
Disc golf lovers can play on a course tucked away in the woods at Iron Hill Park.
Hikers flock to White Clay Creek State Park in Newark for a wide variety of hiking trails.
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Interstates and state routes running through Newark
The section of Interstate 95 that runs through Newark is known as the Delaware Turnpike, with the entire highway running from southern Florida to the Canadian border in Maine. Access to the highway is about a 5-mile trip from the downtown and University of Delaware campus areas of Newark. “95 is pretty conveniently located from there, north of the canal,” Foster says. “Above the canal, it’s super easy to get from one side to the next via 95 or the Kirkwood Highway.” Route 2 is the designation for the Kirkwood Highway, which is close by and extends out of the downtown area. ChristianaCare Christiana Hospital sits in eastern Newark about 6 miles from downtown, serving as both a medical are facility and academic location.
High crime rates in Newark
According to FBI crime data, Newark records a crime rate of about 39.27 crimes per 1,000 residents each year. It is considered safer than 5% of all cities in the United States, with property offenses comprising most of its recorded infractions.
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