Moving to Newark, DE: 2026 Living Guide

Newark is Delaware’s college town. The University of Delaware’s 1,996-acre main campus sits right against Main Street, which is lined with restaurants, coffee shops and bars in buildings that go back to the 1800s. Beyond campus, Newark has quiet residential neighborhoods, 36 city parks, 21 miles of trails and the 3,559-acre White Clay Creek State Park on its northern edge.

Newark suits a wide mix of people: UD faculty, staff and graduate students, young professionals working at the STAR Campus or Christiana Hospital, families who want parks and a real downtown, and parents downsizing close to their college-age kids. It sits right on I-95 and the Northeast Corridor rail line, near the spot where Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania meet, so Philadelphia and Baltimore are both within reach.

Our Newark movers handle everything from campus apartments to family homes. Planning a move to Newark? Call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 or get your price online.

Where Is Newark?

Newark is in New Castle County, about 8 miles west-southwest of Wilmington and 28 miles southwest of Philadelphia, near the tripoint of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1694 and chartered in 1758 by King George II. The city covers about 9.4 square miles.

Interstate 95 runs just south of the city. Newark Rail Station has both SEPTA and Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor, and DART First State and DART Connect run local buses from the Newark Transit Hub. Wilmington Airport (ILG) and Philadelphia International (PHL) are the closest airports, and BWI is a realistic option too.

From Main Street, Newark to	Driving distance	Typical drive (light traffic)
Christiana Hospital	7.1 miles	about 13 minutes
Christiana Mall	9.5 miles	about 16 minutes
Wilmington Airport (ILG)	12.5 miles	about 20 minutes
Downtown Wilmington (Rodney Square)	16.8 miles	about 25 minutes
Downingtown, PA	28.9 miles	about 55 minutes
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)	36.7 miles	about 50 minutes
Dover, DE	44.3 miles	about 1 hour
Philadelphia City Hall	45.9 miles	about 1 hour 5 minutes
Baltimore Inner Harbor	57.5 miles	about 1 hour 20 minutes
BWI Airport	67.9 miles	about 1 hour 30 minutes

Distances were calculated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data from Main Street. I-95 traffic, especially around the Christiana Mall interchange, can make these drives much longer at rush hour.

Newark Population & Demographics

Newark had 31,454 residents in 2010 and 30,601 at the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimates 30,359 as of July 2025. The university shapes almost every number. UD’s official fall 2025 enrollment was 24,564 students, including 18,592 undergraduates on the Newark campus, and the city’s median age is just 22.1.

Measure	Newark	Delaware	United States
Population (July 1, 2025 estimate)	30,359	1,059,952	341,784,857
Population (2020 Census)	30,601	—	331,449,281
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	22.1	41.6	38.9
Residents 65 and older	11.2%	22.8%	18.9%
Median household income (2020–2024)	$76,912	$84,954	$80,734
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	58.2%	35.8%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing	50.7%	73.0%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	19.0 min	26.0 min	26.4 min

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2020–2024 ACS) and Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year); 2010 count from Wikipedia; enrollment from the University of Delaware Registrar.

The Census Bureau reports a 27.7% poverty rate for Newark, but that citywide figure is heavily influenced by students living on limited incomes. Outside the blocks around campus, most neighborhoods are owner-occupied family streets. Newark is also highly educated: 58.2% of adults 25 and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree, well above the state and national rates.

Is Newark Safe?

Like most college towns, Newark sees more activity, and more minor incidents, on the blocks near campus and Main Street on weekend nights, while family neighborhoods farther out are much quieter. We did not find a current city crime total worth quoting. The Newark Police Department links to a public crime map and to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer from its Crime Statistics page, and it publishes an annual report. In its 2025 report, 89% of residents who answered the department’s citizen survey said they view the agency positively. Check the crime map for the exact streets you are considering.

Cost of Living in Newark

Delaware has no statewide sales tax, which helps when you are furnishing a new place. Housing is the bigger question, and in Newark it depends a lot on how close you are to campus.

Home Prices

The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Newark at $382,500 (2020–2024), above both the Delaware median of $352,000 and the U.S. median of $332,700. Zillow’s typical home value for Newark was $365,464 as of August 31, 2026, up 1.0% over the past year, close to Zillow’s $369,618 for New Castle County overall.

Homes near campus cost more. Redfin reports a median sale price of about $480,000 in its University-Newark Core neighborhood for the three months ending August 2026, up 9.7% from a year earlier, with homes selling in a median of 14 days.

Rent

The ACS puts median gross rent in Newark at $1,654 a month (2020–2024), above the Delaware median of $1,401. Zillow’s average rent for Newark was $2,037 as of August 31, 2026. Many rentals near campus cater to students, so non-students often look at apartments and townhomes farther from Main Street.

Best Neighborhoods in Newark

Downtown and the University Core

The streets around Main Street and the UD campus are where Newark is most walkable, with restaurants, the library, parks and the train station close by. Redfin’s median sale price here is about $480,000. This area suits faculty, grad students and people who want to walk everywhere, as long as they are fine with student neighbors, game-day crowds and busy weekends.

West Newark

West Newark, between campus and the Maryland line, is one of the higher-priced parts of the city, with a Redfin median sale price of about $469,000 and a Compete Score of 73, which Redfin rates as competitive. It suits families and professionals who want a larger single-family home, easy access to White Clay Creek State Park and a quieter street away from the student blocks.

South Newark

South Newark, toward I-95 and the STAR Campus, is more affordable, with a Redfin median sale price of about $272,000 and a Compete Score of 71. It includes townhomes and older single homes and is a good fit for first-time buyers, hospital and STAR Campus workers, and anyone who wants the fastest route to I-95 and Christiana.

Weather & Climate

Newark has a humid subtropical climate. According to the climate data summarized on Wikipedia, January averages a high of 42.5°F and a low of 25.1°F, and July averages a high of 88.6°F and a low of 66.4°F. Newark gets about 46.96 inches of precipitation a year, spread over roughly 110 days. Snow falls most winters; nearby New Castle County Airport averages 20.2 inches a season.

Best months to move: May and October are ideal if you can avoid UD’s move-in and move-out weekends, when campus-area streets fill with parents, rental trucks and double-parked cars. Summer moves are fine with an early start, and winter moves need a backup date for snow.

Things to Do in Newark

White Clay Creek State Park

Just north of the city, White Clay Creek State Park covers 3,559 acres along the Delaware-Pennsylvania line, with 41 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking. You can visit the Chambers House nature center, historic Mason-Dixon line markers and the Tri-State Monument. In 2000, White Clay Creek became the first entire watershed added to the National Wild and Scenic River program.

Main Street

Main Street is the center of town life, with restaurants, bars, coffee shops and local stores running along the edge of campus. It is where locals meet for brunch, watch the game and walk after dinner. Metered parking is managed by the city, and you can pay by app.

Newark’s Parks and Trails

The city maintains more than 700 acres of parkland and open space, with 36 parks and 21 miles of trails. That means most neighborhoods have a playground, ball field or trail within a short walk, which is one of the big reasons families stay in Newark after grad school.

Blue Hens Games

The University of Delaware fields 21 NCAA Division I teams, known as the Fightin’ Blue Hens, and plays football at Delaware Stadium. The football program has won six national titles, including the 2003 NCAA I-AA championship, and UD moved to Conference USA for the 2025–26 season.

The STAR Campus

In 2009, UD bought the shuttered Chrysler assembly plant next to campus for $24.25 million and turned the 272-acre site into the Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. It is home to UD’s College of Health Sciences, Chemours’ Discovery Hub research center and Bloom Energy’s East Coast headquarters, and ChristianaCare runs public health clinics there.

Where to Eat in Newark

Deer Park Tavern (West Main Street)

Deer Park Tavern at 108 West Main Street has served Newark in some form since St. Patrick’s Inn stood on the site in 1747; the current brick building went up in 1851. Local lore says Edgar Allan Poe fell from a carriage here in 1843 and cursed the place so that all who enter must return. Today it is a sports bar and grill with pizza, wings, burgers, brunch and live events.

Klondike Kate’s (East Main Street)

Klondike Kate’s at 158 East Main Street has been family-owned since 1979. It serves American comfort food, including burgers, nachos and seafood, with weekend brunch and weekday happy hour. It is a Main Street standby for UD families, game-day crowds and locals.

Home Grown Cafe (East Main Street)

Home Grown Cafe at 126 East Main Street has been open since 2000, serving vegan, vegetarian, gluten-sensitive and meat dishes along with craft beer, cocktails and wine. It is a good pick if your household has mixed diets and you want everyone to find something they like.

Jobs & Economy

Newark commutes are short: the Census Bureau puts the average one-way trip to work at 19.0 minutes, well under the state and national averages.

University of Delaware: UD is Newark’s anchor employer and the center of its research economy.
Healthcare: ChristianaCare has more than 10,000 employees. Christiana Hospital, about seven miles from Main Street, has 907 licensed beds and is Delaware’s only adult Level I trauma center.
STAR Campus: Chemours’ Discovery Hub and Bloom Energy’s East Coast headquarters bring research, engineering and manufacturing jobs to the former Chrysler site.
Banking and corporate services: Bank of America, M&T Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup are among Delaware’s major employers.
Science and pharmaceuticals: DuPont, AstraZeneca, Syngenta and Agilent all have a presence in Delaware.

Schools in Newark

Newark’s public schools are part of the Christina School District, which also covers parts of Wilmington, Glasgow, Bear, Brookside and Pike Creek. The district runs three high schools: Newark High School in the city, Christiana High School and Glasgow High School. Confirm your zoned school with the district for your exact address.

For higher education, the University of Delaware traces its roots to a free school founded in 1743, was chartered in 1769 and took its current name in 1921. It enrolled 24,564 students in fall 2025, and it remains the heart of the city.

Newark Quick Facts

County	New Castle County
Founded / chartered	1694 / 1758
Area	About 9.4 square miles
ZIP code	19711 (downtown and Main Street)
Area code	302 (Delaware’s only area code; 10-digit dialing)
Main highway	I-95
Rail	Newark Rail Station (SEPTA and Amtrak)
Nearest airports	Wilmington (ILG), 12.5 miles; Philadelphia (PHL), 36.7 miles
Electric utility	City of Newark (community electric utility powered by DEMEC) for city customers
City offices	Newark Municipal Building, 220 S. Main Street
Public schools	Christina School District
University	University of Delaware (24,564 students, fall 2025)
Sales tax	None (Delaware)

Moving to Newark: Tips From Our Crew

These are the tips our Newark moving crews share most often:

Avoid UD move-in and move-out weekends. At the start and end of the academic year, the blocks around campus fill with parents, rental trucks and double-parked cars. If you can, book your move a week before or after.
Plan parking near Main Street. Downtown parking is metered and city-managed, and many streets near campus have limited curb space. Check the city’s parking map ahead of time, and let us know if the truck will need to park around the corner.
Set up the right utility. The City of Newark runs its own community electric utility, so homes inside city limits may get their power from the city rather than a regional utility. Call the city before moving day to start service.
Expect stairs in student-area rentals. Many rentals near campus are older homes split into units, with steep stairs and tight landings. Measure your larger furniture before you sign, and ask us about disassembly.
Time the I-95 run. I-95 through the Christiana Mall area slows down at rush hour and on holiday weekends. A mid-morning start keeps your crew and your truck moving.
Moving your student into or out of Newark? We move apartments and dorm-sized loads and offer storage for the summer between leases. Certificates of insurance for apartment buildings are free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Newark

How much does it cost to hire movers in Newark, DE?

It depends on the size of the move, distance, stairs and parking at both addresses, and extras like packing or storage. A one-bedroom apartment near campus costs far less than a four-bedroom house going out of state. Call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 for a free quote. An owner calls back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm.

Is Newark, DE a good place for families?

Many families think so. Newark has 36 parks, 21 miles of trails and White Clay Creek State Park on its doorstep, plus a walkable Main Street and a university that brings sports, arts and events. Families who want quieter streets often look farther from the student blocks, in areas like West Newark.

How far is Newark from Philadelphia and Baltimore?

Philadelphia City Hall is about 46 miles away and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor about 58 miles, both roughly an hour or so by car with light traffic. Newark Rail Station also has SEPTA and Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor, which many commuters prefer to I-95.

What school district is Newark in?

Newark is in the Christina School District. Newark High School is in the city, and the district also runs Christiana High and Glasgow High. Attendance zones depend on your exact address, so check with the district before you commit to a home or lease.

When is the best time to rent in Newark?

Near campus, much of the rental market is geared to students and follows the university calendar. If you are not a student, look at apartments and townhomes farther from Main Street as well. Start looking 60 days before your move date.

Move to Newark With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers is family-owned since 2015, and our Tri-State office handles moves in Newark and across New Castle County. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. With our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center; if anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, and claims are resolved in 60 to 90 days. For long-distance moves, you get a binding estimate, your own dedicated truck, the same crew door to door and a guaranteed delivery date. Visit our Newark movers page or call 410-499-8777.

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Moving to Newark, DE: Living in Newark Guide