Is Highlands safe?
Wilmington, Delaware · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Highlands as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Highlands
“Go. The Highlands is one of Wilmington's most secure, affluent, and architecturally stunning residential neighborhoods. Violent crime is rare, and visitors can comfortably explore its parklands, cultural institutions, and historic streets at any time of day.”
About the area
The Highlands is a prestigious, leafy neighborhood situated between Rockford Park and Brandywine Park in northwest Wilmington. Characterized by early-20th-century stone mansions, quiet avenues, and mature tree canopies, it offers a peaceful retreat adjacent to the lively dining scene in neighboring Trolley Square.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Affluent & Quiet
- Parkside Enclave
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Highlands
Walk score: 64/100 · Bike score: 58/100
While Wilmington does not currently operate a municipal bike-share system, the Highlands connects directly to multi-use recreational routes via the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail running through Rockford and Brandywine Parks.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low violent crime rate compared to citywide and regional averages.
- Robust economic stability with median household incomes well exceeding $110,000 and high rates of homeownership.
- Direct pedestrian access to scenic open spaces, including Rockford Park and the Delaware Art Museum grounds.
Cons
- Occasional isolated property crimes such as vehicle break-ins, common along boundary corridors.
- Limited commercial dining and retail directly within the strictly residential interior.
- Commuter cut-through traffic and speeding on peripheral routes like Pennsylvania Avenue.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness and street encampments are not a notable presence within The Highlands, as unhoused services and shelter networks are situated further southeast toward downtown Wilmington.
What Highlands is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and residents heading toward Rockford Park and local transit stops.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and quiet with light neighborhood traffic, school pickups, and museum visitors strolling along Kentmere Parkway.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and residential, maintaining an exceptionally safe atmosphere as residents return home or walk to nearby restaurants.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and minimal street activity; general suburban safety precautions apply, but serious incidents are uncommon.
Transit, parking and getting around
DART First State operates local bus routes (including Route 10 and Route 52) along the perimeter on Pennsylvania Avenue, providing direct connections to the Wilmington Transit Center / Amtrak Station roughly 2 miles southeast.
On-street parking is free, readily available, and unmetered throughout the residential streets, with dedicated private lots at the art museum and local perimeter businesses.
Things to do in Highlands
- Tour the galleries and outdoor sculpture garden at the Delaware Art Museum.
- Visit historic Rockford Tower and enjoy the expansive recreational lawns of Rockford Park.
- Stroll along the historic, park-like medians of Kentmere Parkway and Bancroft Parkway.
Local favorites
- Delaware Art Museum · Art Museum · 4.7★ (1150)Celebrated cultural institution featuring extensive Pre-Raphaelite art collections, American illustration, and a sculpture garden.
- Columbus Inn · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (1280)Historic upscale tavern offering refined American dishes, seasonal craft cocktails, and patio dining on Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Piccolina Toscana · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (940)Longstanding neighborhood staple on the Highlands border serving authentic handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and fine wines.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.