From jockey track to an Edward L. Palmer Jr. masterpiece
Years before residents of Wawaset moved in, jockeys and race car drivers competed at high speeds around the oval track that shapes this community outside of Downtown Wilmington. The vision for Wawaset began with Edward L. Palmer Jr., an American architect hired to design a planned community for executive corporate staff and other employees. "The idea back then was that workers would be able to afford living right next to the CEO of the company," says Victoria Dickinson, a local Realtor with Patterson-Schwartz Real Estate. Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted, Palmer drafted plans that transformed the former fairground and racetrack into a bespoke residence park with pine and oak trees.
Crawford Circle in reminiscent of the race track that sat on this site in Wawaset.
Tudor-style homes sit just off Crawford Circle in the middle of Wawaset.
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Verdant, winding streets with stately housing
The neighborhood offers a mix of Georgian, English Tudor, Dutch Colonial and French Revival homes, as well as Gothic-style townhouses on curvilinear streets. Homes sell for anywhere between $400,000 and $890,000, with some even listing as high as $2 million. Million-dollar homes feature luxury architecture and amenities, from stone masonry exteriors and original hardwood floors to crystal lighting, fountain courtyards and plunge pools. Towering trees cast shade onto nearly every street and lawn, and yards burst with colorful florals and lush shrubs. Vintage street lamps and narrow sidewalks follow roads occasionally dotted with cars.
A lovely French Revival home with a freshly trimmed lawn in Wawaset.
A brick Georgian home shrouded in trees in Wawaset.
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Walking the greenway and playing the green
While the streets of Wawaset are visibly verdant, residents seek outdoor recreation nearby. Locals take long walks or tow their children to the Woodlawn Branch Library via Bancroft Parkway. This greenway courses along a tree-covered median spanning about a dozen city blocks. Residents also enjoy a stroll through the fragrant gardens at Goodstay Center, which is open to the public despite being a part of the University of Delaware Wilmington Campus. About 1 mile away, Rockford Park sits along Brandywine Creek. Over 104 acres offer a dog park, athletic fields, picnic areas, wooded trails and a historic observation tower. Being so close to the creek is a major draw to locals; Dickinson shares that many of her clients “say they like to go fly fishing at the creek during their lunch hour." Directly west of the neighborhood, the Ed Oliver Golf Club provides a scenic 18-hole course.
A statue welcomes neighbors to Woodlawn Library, in the Wawaset neighborhood.
Nearby Rockford Park offers vast open areas and walking trails for Wawaset residents.
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Mentorship programs at Alexis I. du Pont Middle and High
Students attend Joseph E. Johnson Elementary School, followed by Alexis I. du Pont Middle School and Alexis I. du Pont High School. All three schools have C-plus ratings on Niche. Both the middle and high schools offer a program called Just Mentoring, a 501 c3 nonprofit that matches middle school student-athletes with high school mentors to learn how to balance academics with athletics.
The neighborhood sits directly against the University of Delaware Wilmington Campus, which has an A-minus rating. Niche ranks the university as the state's No. 1 value college. Top majors include finance, marketing, experimental psychology and healthcare.
Main entrance at Johnson Elementary.
The Alexis I. duPont High School signage welcoming students back.
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Bistros, pubs and speakeasys nearby
Wawaset parallels North Union Street, which is lined with local eateries, neighborhood pubs and breakfast bistros. Eclipse Bistro is a cozy yet sophisticated eatery specializing in New American fare and seafood. Merengue House Bar & Restaurant serves traditional Dominican dishes, while Mrs. Robino's Restaurant offers old-school Italian favorites from inside a renovated 1940s row house. Locals also frequent Trolley Square, a historic district under 2 miles away filled with some of the city's best pubs. At the Trolley Tap House, a playful blue-and-yellow mural of flowing beer, trains and a smiling dog greets customers before they enter. Inside, customers might hear someone talking about the secretive speakeasy around the corner. To taste Hummingbird to Mars’ martinis and craft cocktails, people know to check behind Irish pub Catherine Rooney's and ring the doorbell next to the black door with a golden hummingbird. For groceries, Papa’s Food Market and ACME Markets are within 2 miles.
Wawaset residents know that El Toro's margaritas are the best in town.
Not far from Wawaset, Mrs. Robino's is the place to go for tasty, Italian dishes.
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Getting to I-95 and downtown
It’s common to see residents walking or jogging on the sidewalks around the neighborhood. Most people, however, travel by car to get around the city. Wawaset is only 2 miles from Downtown Wilmington and the nearest onramp onto Interstate 95. A few DART bus stops follow Pennsylvania Avenue, and the Wilmington Airport is about 8 miles away. The neighborhood is under 2 miles from ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital and St Francis Hospital.
DART buses connect Wawaset residents with easy transportation to Wilmington.
Quiet and peaceful Wawaset is just a few short minutes form downtown Wilmington.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Samuel Elzie,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Rockford Park
Baseball/Softball
Dog Park
Tennis
Brandywine Park
Picnic Area
Tennis
Trails
Conaty Park
Picnic Area
Tennis
Playground
Stapler Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Playground
Woodlawn Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Playground
Mack Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Playground
Father Tucker Memorial Park
Baseball/Softball
Playground
Transit
Airport
Philadelphia International
35 min drive
Bus
Pennsylvania Ave & Woodlawn Ave
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Wawaset
US
Homicide
6
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Wawaset, Wilmington sell after 3 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Wawaset, Wilmington over the last 12 months is $751,000, up 22% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$685,000
Median Single Family Price
$685,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$263
Last 12 months Home Sales
7
Median List Price
$685,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
19%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
210
Median Year Built
1925
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,511
Above the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
3,287
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,969
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Samuel Elzie,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
474
Median Age
49
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
19.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$151,389
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$175,672
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
100%
College Graduates
88.2%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
51.4%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
45''
Average Winter Low Temperature
26°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
11''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
56/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
74/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
41/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
