Is Manette Heights safe?
Pike Creek, Delaware · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Manette Heights as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Manette Heights
“Go. Manette Heights is a tranquil, established suburban neighborhood in Pike Creek with very low crime rates and strong neighborhood cohesion. It is exceptionally safe for visitors, walkers, and families, though having a car is necessary to access regional attractions and dining.”
About the area
Located in the rolling hills of the Pike Creek Valley in New Castle County, Manette Heights features well-kept single-family homes and mature landscaping. It offers a peaceful residential base near local parks, nature preserves, and the university hub of nearby Newark.
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Manette Heights
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There is no public bike-share program in the area; road cycling is common on wider thoroughfares, and off-road biking trails are accessible nearby at Middle Run Valley Natural Area and White Clay Creek State Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Substantially lower violent and property crime rates compared to national and state averages
- High rates of homeownership and well-maintained properties reflecting strong economic stability
- Close proximity to expansive regional parks, equestrian facilities, and nature trails
Cons
- Strictly residential layout with almost no commercial amenities within walking distance
- Heavily reliant on personal vehicles for daily errands, dining, and transit
- Suburban street design lacks comprehensive sidewalk coverage on some connecting roads
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within Manette Heights and its immediate residential surroundings, with social support services located farther out in Wilmington and Newark.
What Manette Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents jogging, walking dogs, and commuting along quiet residential lanes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with light local traffic and occasional neighborhood service vehicles.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet suburban atmosphere as residents return home, very safe for evening strolls with standard situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely low activity and very dark residential streets, maintaining low crime and high safety.
Transit, parking and getting around
DART First State operates limited bus service in the Pike Creek area along Route 7 and Kirkwood Highway, but direct service into the subdivision is nonexistent; Newark Amtrak/SEPTA rail station is about a 15-minute drive away.
Ample free residential street parking is readily available throughout the neighborhood, along with private driveways; commercial strip centers nearby offer large, free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Manette Heights
- Explore the walking trails, ponds, and equestrian center at Carousel Park & Equestrian Center nearby
- Hike or mountain bike the forested trails at Middle Run Valley Natural Area
- Enjoy casual dining and lake views at nearby Pike Creek shopping hubs
Local favorites
- McGlynns Pub - Pike Creek · American Restaurant & Pub · 4.3★ (1150)A popular neighborhood tavern serving burgers, steaks, and craft beer overlooking Polly Drummond Hill Road.
- The Well Coffeehouse and Marketplace · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (460)A cozy community-oriented cafe offering specialty espresso drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and local goods.
- Sali's Pizza · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (380)Longstanding local favorite serving traditional New York-style pizza, cheesesteaks, and pasta dishes.
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.