Is New Market safe?
Ellendale, Delaware · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates New Market as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on New Market
“Go. New Market is a quiet, semi-rural community outside Ellendale that offers a peaceful, low-crime environment for visitors. Violent crime against visitors is rare, and basic vigilance alongside cautious highway driving is all that is needed.”
About the area
New Market is a small, rural residential enclave situated just outside Ellendale in central Sussex County. Surrounded by farmland and pine forests, the area features modest single-family homes, country roads, and close proximity to US-113.
- Quiet Rural
- Car-Dependent
- Wooded / Agricultural
- Small Town Adjacent
Walking and biking in New Market
Walk score: 16/100 · Bike score: 28/100
There is no public bike-share program and paved roadways lack dedicated bike lanes, but nearby Redden State Forest offers miles of well-maintained unpaved cycling trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates than Delaware urban centers and national averages
- Close access to expansive outdoor recreation at Redden State Forest
- Peaceful, low-density rural residential atmosphere with low property disruption
Cons
- High-speed vehicular traffic on nearby US-113 creates safety challenges for motorists and pedestrians
- Minimal commercial and dining options in the immediate neighborhood requiring driving for all essentials
- Sparse streetlighting on rural backroads reduces nighttime visibility
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in New Market. Social and support services are centered in larger nearby Sussex County municipalities like Georgetown.
What New Market is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and serene with very light residential traffic and complete pedestrian safety along quiet side roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are pleasant and quiet, with occasional highway traffic along perimeter connectors but minimal crime risk.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are dark and tranquil; walking requires caution due to unlit roadways rather than crime.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights are pitch-black and deserted, with hazards limited to wildlife crossings and rural driving conditions.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is sparse; DART First State offers limited regional bus service on Route 212 and Route 303 along the US-113 corridor connecting to Georgetown and Milford, with no rail service available.
Parking is abundant and entirely free, with ample space on private lots and at all local roadside businesses without meters or time limits.
Things to do in New Market
- Hike, run, or birdwatch along the pine-lined trails in the adjacent Redden State Forest
- Enjoy homestyle comfort food and country breakfasts at local Ellendale diners
- Take a scenic countryside drive connecting to Delaware's coastal beach highways
Local favorites
- Southern Grill · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (1450)Beloved local diner serving homestyle country breakfasts, fresh seafood, and comfort food classics.
- Redden State Forest Headquarters · State Park / Recreation · 4.7★ (210)Public park headquarters featuring extensive multi-use trails, historical exhibits, and quiet wooded picnic grounds.
- Royal Farms · Convenience Store · 4.1★ (380)Convenient 24-hour stop known across the region for fried chicken, quick snacks, and fuel.
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.