Whaleyville offers country living in the Delmarva Peninsula
Whaleyville is a parcel of farmland, swampy forests and country roads in rural Worcester County that stretches from U.S. Route 50 to the Delaware state line. Although it’s connected to one of the busiest roadways in the Delmarva Peninsula, the tourist traffic and pricey real estate that radiate from beach towns like Ocean City peter out this far inland. Rather than being centered around a buzzy boardwalk and shoreline, life in Whaleyville revolves around karaoke nights at local restaurants, getting outside on a few acres of land and continuing community events and local legends across generations. “Whaleyville is a nice place to go if you like it a little more country,” says Rebecca Turner, a sales agent with Northrop Realty who’s served markets in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia for more than five years. “It's the best of both worlds – you can still drive to the beach, but also have livestock, horses and ATVs.”
A blend of homes set between forests and farmland
Single-family homes of many kinds line Whaleyville’s back roads. National and Victorian-style homes stand on suburban-sized lots in older crossroads areas. Down the street, neighbors on larger acreages are separated by stands of trees and cornfields. Newer ranch-style and manufactured homes have been built on properties of many sizes. Regardless of housing style, properties might be forested, full of fenced fields where livestock can roam or a combination of the two. Homes rarely go on the market in Whaleyville. The median single-family home price is about $330,000, lower than the national median of around $400,000. Houses on at least a dozen acres can list for up to $900,000
Urban legends and waterfront recreation around Whaleyville
The Great Cypress Swamp creeps into Whaleyville across the Delaware border, a longtime source of local mystery and cryptozoological intrigue. “There’s all kinds of folklore – an old tree everybody used to carve their initials into, the swamp monster,” Turner says. “I actually knew the swamp monster. He was a man who dressed up in a suit in the '60s. He’s passed, but you’ll still hear stories about him.” Whaleyville Park offers a playground and picnic tables at the crux of Sheppards Crossing and Whaleyville roads. For natural recreation areas, residents do the same thing that much of Worcester County does: Drive to the local park or the shore. Ocean City is roughly 14 miles from home, a hub of sandy Atlantic Ocean beaches and a bikeable boardwalk at the end of Route 50. It’s only a few extra miles to reach Fenwick Island or Assateague Island, destinations that Turner recommends to beachgoers who want a more relaxed beach town vibe or the chance to see wild horses.
Attending Worcester County Public Schools
Whaleyville is a part of the Worcester County Public Schools district, which gets an A from Niche. Buckingham Elementary School earns an A-minus from Niche, as does Berlin Intermediate School. Stephen Decatur Middle School receives an A, and Stephen Decatur High School scores a B-plus. Stephen Decatur High offers dual enrollment courses in partnership with institutions like Salisbury University.
Commuting on Route 50 and leaving Worcester County
Route 50 runs through Whaleyville, connecting the community to the rest of the Delmarva Peninsula and beyond. Atlantic General Hospital is about 8 miles away in Berlin. Salisbury is about 18 miles in the opposite direction. The Salisbury Regional Airport offers limited connecting flights, so many residents will drive more than two hours to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport or Philadelphia International Airport. Residents who want to use Shore Transit services have to call ahead to request a pickup and then stand along Hall Road to flag the bus down. This flag stop service is not guaranteed, and most residents drive around town.
Music at the local bar, Salisbury shopping and dining
Oasis Bar & Grill serves pub fare and Tex-Mex favorites every day of the week, but regulars might visit to do some karaoke or dance on Friday nights. There’s a Dollar General and a Dash In convenience store in neighboring Willards, and Berlin’s Food Lion is about 8 miles from home. Residents drive about 25 minutes to Salisbury to get groceries at Food Lion or to shop at big box stores like the Walmart and Target down the street from the Centre at Salisbury shopping mall.
Christmas parades and breakfast food fundraisers at Whaleyville UMC
A few small churches hold religious services throughout the community, including Whaleyville United Methodist Church. Outside of the regular Sunday schedule, Whaleyville UMC hosts holiday events and get-togethers. Motorcycle and car clubs march with local sports teams during the annual Christmas Parade. Many pancake breakfasts the church throws are free, but other breakfast buffets are fundraisers for the community’s youth group.
Flood risk in the Pocomoke River Watershed
The Pocomoke River and other waterways may flood after unusually heavy rain. While most properties are unaffected, buyers can consult maps to determine flood risk and need for additional insurance.
Written By
Julia Szymanski
