Is The Highlands safe?
Pike Creek, Delaware · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates The Highlands as “Go”.
Gogo's take on The Highlands
“Go. The Highlands in Pike Creek is an exceptionally safe, peaceful suburban enclave nestled in the hills of New Castle County. Violent crime is virtually nonexistent, and visitors have no meaningful safety concerns walking or driving through the area.”
About the area
The Highlands is a quiet, tree-lined residential community situated within the scenic Pike Creek Valley. Characterized by well-maintained single-family homes, rolling topography, and close proximity to regional parks, it is a quintessential suburban neighborhood. Visitors primarily come to enjoy the surrounding natural scenery, local golf, and nearby state parks.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet / Peaceful
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in The Highlands
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 25/100
There are no public bike-share hubs, but cyclists frequently use the paved roads to connect to the extensive multi-use trail networks in nearby Carousel Park and White Clay Creek.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates are significantly lower than state and national averages.
- High median household incomes, low poverty rate, and very high rate of homeownership.
- Quiet residential streets with minimal through-traffic.
- Immediate access to top outdoor recreation like White Clay Creek State Park and Carousel Park.
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with almost no commercial amenities directly inside the subdivision.
- Limited street lighting along residential curves at night.
- Winding, hilly terrain can make navigating on foot challenging.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in The Highlands or the surrounding Pike Creek residential subdivisions.
What The Highlands is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with local residents walking dogs and jogging through quiet residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with light local traffic and standard suburban activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and relaxing as residents return home; streets remain exceptionally safe.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet with almost no street activity, posing virtually zero threat to safety.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is very limited; DART First State operates local bus routes like Route 18 along major nearby corridors like DE-7/Limestone Road, but there is no direct rail station within walking distance (Wilmington Amtrak/SEPTA station is about 20 minutes away by car).
Parking is completely effortless and free throughout the neighborhood via private driveways and ample residential curbside space.
Things to do in The Highlands
- Hike, fish, and picnic along the trails at nearby White Clay Creek State Park.
- Visit the equestrian facilities, bark park, and walking loops at Carousel Park & Equestrian Center.
- Play a round of golf at the nearby Delcastle Golf Club or Pike Creek Valley golf courses.
Local favorites
- Sweeney's Bakery · Bakery · 4.6★ (380)Beloved long-standing Pike Creek bakery known for custom cakes, pastries, and fresh-baked cookies.
- Taqueria Los Primos · Mexican Restaurant · 4.7★ (510)Popular local eatery serving authentic tacos, burritos, and traditional Mexican platters.
- Two Stones Pub Pike Creek · Gastropub · 4.5★ (1150)Relaxed craft-beer bar and restaurant offering upscale pub fare and an extensive draft list.
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.