A small suburban town in New Castle County, Pike Creek Valley is home to around 11,500 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau. This quiet town, more commonly known as Pike Creek, is located about 12 miles west of Wilmington and around 45 miles from Philadelphia. “Pike Creek is where the towns of Hockessin, Newark and Wilmington come together,” says Angela Ferguson, Realtor with RE/MAX Associates. “And it has more hills than the rest of Delaware. It’s very picturesque.” While the community is green and leafy, offering nature parks and miles of wooded walking trails, commuters can access Interstate 95 from the southern end of town. “If you’re looking for a comfortable place with commuting options into Philly or Wilmington, Pike Creek is that place,” Ferguson says. “Or if you want a pet-friendly town with trendy places to eat or pop in for a salt bath, Pike Creek is that place.”
Take in the beauty of majestic horses in Pike Creek at Carousel Park.
The Pike Creek neighborhood in Newark, Delaware is surrounded by lush greenery.
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Split-levels with renovations and condos with HOAs
Sidewalks line most of Pike Creek Valley’s subdivisions and residential lanes, where Colonial-inspired split-levels are common. These single-family houses feature attached garages and usually sit on a quarter-acre to a half-acre of land. “A lot of these split-levels have added more bathrooms since the late ‘60s and early ‘70s,” Ferguson says. “It was common to have three bedrooms and one bathroom back then.” There are also brick condominiums and traditional-style townhomes built in the 1970s with HOA fees that cover community amenities. The median price for a home in Pike Creek Valley is $345,000, slightly lower than the national median. Residential properties typically stay on the market for an average of 20 days.
Quaint townhomes with German influences can be seen throughout the Pike Creek neighborhood.
Split-level homes can be found throughout the Pike Creek neighborhood.
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Walking trails from Carousel Park to Middle Run Valley
The quiet location of Pike Creek Valley lends itself to peaceful and wooded green spaces, which surround the residential sections of town. On the west side, Middle Run Valley Natural Area offers more than 850 acres with several different hiking trails that weave through the community, including Snow Goose Trail and Chestnut Hill Trail. While walking along one of the trails, residents can visit Judge Morris Estate, originally a fieldstone house constructed in the 18th century that has since been renovated and made available for public tours. Also on-site is Deerfield, a public golf course, and Preston’s Playground, an expansive play area that was opened in 2018. New Castle County purchased more land in 2021 to expand the Middle Run Valley Natural Area. This expansion included connecting the trails from the town of Newark to Carousel Park, another popular area for strolls around a lake located on the east side of Pike Creek Valley. “Carousel Park has Clydesdales. The police keep their working horses there, which is cool to see,” Ferguson adds. “And they do a farmers market there, too.”
Residents love to feed the geese at Carousel Park.
Take the dogs for a walk on a nice day in Paper Mill Park.
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Christina and Red Clay public school districts
Depending on where in Pike Creek Valley they live, students are zoned to either the Christina School District, which receives a C-plus from Niche, or the Red Clay Consolidated School District, which holds an A-minus. Christina has 21 elementary schools, including Etta J. Wilson Elementary, which has a B-plus, nine middle schools and six high schools, including Newark High School, with a B-minus. Red Clay has 18 elementary schools, including Linden Hill Elementary, which receives an A, ten middle schools and seven high schools, including John Dickinson School, which holds a B. A well-known private school in the area, Saint Mark’s High School is Catholic-based and has an A-minus rating.
Higher education can continue just 5 miles west of Pike Creek Valley in Newark, where the University of Delaware enrolls just under 25,000 students. “Some residents enjoy the ambiance of college life, or they’ll go there to watch a show or support the college teams,” Ferguson says.
Etta J. Wilson Elementary School in Christiana serves students in Pike Creek.
Pike Creek Students continue their education at H.B. DuPont Middle School.
Goldey-Beacom College is a private university in the heart of Pike Creek.
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Trendy cafes and shops around Pike Creek Shopping Center
Along Pike Creek Valley’s east side, Pike Creek Shopping Center sits right off Route 7. This retail area features ACME Markets, several restaurants, a fitness studio, salons and other storefronts. Sushi Xtreme serves Japanese cuisine, while Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is a popular spot for a slice. "I love Brew HaHa. They always have creative coffees and great desserts,” Ferguson says of a local coffee shop. “And Daily Veg is next to it with great vegan or gluten-free options.” On the opposite side of town, Polly Drummond Center also features retail shops and eateries, including Zingo’s Supermarket and McGlynn’s Pub, a local alehouse.
Sip on your favorite morning brew at Brew HaHa in Pike Creek.
Chuck Lager is a local favorite for lunch and dinner in Pike Creek.
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Events and farmers markets in neighboring Newark
While there are no community events or festivals specific to the Pike Creek Valley community, there is a full calendar of options in nearby Newark or Wilmington. Just south of town, the Newark and Brookside areas also offer more dining, shopping and indoor recreation. Patriot Ice Center is an ice-skating and hockey rink, and Vince’s Sports Center has mini golf, batting cages and arcade games. “There’s also the Newark Farmers Market, which is huge, with a wide variety of items that are reasonably priced,” Ferguson adds. “You’ll find things you wouldn’t find at a normal grocery store.”
Catch a matinee at Cinemark in Newark, which features an IMAX theater.
Grab a quick bite or stop in to several small boutique stores on Main St in Downtown Newark.
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Commuter-friendly state route connections to I-95
The main thoroughfares around Pike Creek Valley are State Routes 7, 72 and 2, all of which service the town. Interstate 95 can be accessed just south of the area, making the 45-mile commute to Philadelphia more manageable. The DART, or Delaware Authority for Regional Transit, bus system services the community, with several stops along Route 2. The nearest passenger train station is about 5 miles south of town at Churchman’s Crossing, which provides SEPTA service from Newark to Philadelphia, making stops at the University of Pennsylvania, Center City and Temple University. This train station is located next to Christiana Hospital, a 1,039-bed and 1.3 million-square-foot general hospital. Wilmington Airport is 10 miles away, providing domestic flights through Avelo Air. For more flight options, Philadelphia International Airport is about 30 miles east.
DART has plenty of bus stops scattered throughout Pike Creek if you need a ride.
For quick flights along the east coast, head to Wilmington Airport, 10 miles away.
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Weather patterns in Pike Creek Valley
Pike Creek Valley experiences all four seasons, with average daily highs of 75 degrees in the summer and average daily lows of 25 degrees in the winter. While July typically sees peak temperatures of 85 degrees, it also sees the most rainfall with an average of 11 rainy days. February typically has the most snow, at an average of 6.5 inches per snowfall.
Crime data for Pike Creek Valley is not readily available. However, New Castle County’s crime rate remained significantly lower than the national crime rate throughout 2024.
Pike Creek is surrounded by lush greenery during the spring and summer seasons.
Carousel Park offers year round recreation for residents of Pike Creek.
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Written By
Mary Beth Greene
Photography Contributed By
Bill Marrs
Video By
Matthew Bloch
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Tania Peralta,
an experienced agent in this area.
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