Moving to Elsmere, DE: 2026 Living Guide

Elsmere is a one-square-mile town on Wilmington’s western border, and it has been a place for working families to buy a first home for well over a century. It was founded in 1886 as what Wikipedia calls the first suburb in northern Delaware, grew up around the railroad and trolley lines, and even hosted the Delaware State Fair from 1917 to 1928. Today it is a compact grid of post-war homes, eight small town parks and Kirkwood Highway shopping, with the Wilmington VA Medical Center inside town limits.

Elsmere suits first-time buyers, young families, veterans, hospital workers and anyone who wants a house and a yard for less than the Delaware average, with downtown Wilmington about 10 minutes away. Home values here run well below the county and state, and you still get town services like curbside trash, recycling and yard-waste pickup.

Our Elsmere movers work these blocks all the time. Planning a move to Elsmere? Call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 or get your price online.

Where Is Elsmere?

Elsmere is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, bordering the city of Wilmington along Wilmington’s western edge. Delaware Route 2 (Kirkwood Highway) runs east to west through town, and DART First State’s Route 6 bus connects Elsmere with the Wilmington and Newark transit hubs. I-95 and I-495 are a short drive away, and Wilmington Airport (ILG) in New Castle is about five and a half miles south.

From Elsmere to	Driving distance	Typical drive (light traffic)
Downtown Wilmington (Rodney Square)	3.7 miles	about 10 minutes
Wilmington Airport (ILG)	5.5 miles	about 12 minutes
Christiana Mall	7.5 miles	about 15 minutes
University of Delaware (Newark)	9.6 miles	about 20 minutes
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)	23.7 miles	about 40 minutes
Downingtown, PA	25.3 miles	about 45 minutes
Philadelphia City Hall	32.8 miles	about 55 minutes
Dover, DE	48.1 miles	about 1 hour 5 minutes
Baltimore Inner Harbor	68.6 miles	about 1 hour 35 minutes

Distances were calculated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data from the center of town. Kirkwood Highway and I-95 traffic at rush hour can stretch these times.

Elsmere Population & Demographics

Elsmere has held steady for years. The town had 6,131 residents in 2010 and 6,229 at the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimates 6,196 as of July 2025. It is younger than Delaware as a whole, with a median age of 35.5 compared with 41.6 statewide.

Measure	Elsmere	Delaware	United States
Population (July 1, 2025 estimate)	6,196	1,059,952	341,784,857
Population (2020 Census)	6,229	—	331,449,281
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	35.5	41.6	38.9
Residents 65 and older	12.5%	22.8%	18.9%
Median household income (2020–2024)	$67,944	$84,954	$80,734
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	15.1%	35.8%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing	65.7%	73.0%	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	24.4 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.

The Census Bureau reports a 23.1% poverty rate for Elsmere, higher than the state, and 216 veterans living in town. The town covers just 0.99 square miles, so nearly every home is within a few blocks of a park, a bus stop or Kirkwood Highway.

Is Elsmere Safe?

We did not find a recent, town-specific crime report worth quoting for Elsmere, and in a town this small a handful of incidents can change the numbers a lot. Safety also varies from block to block. Before you commit, contact the Elsmere Police Department through the Town of Elsmere website to ask about the streets you are considering, and visit on a weeknight and a weekend. Signing up for the town’s CodeRED notification system is a good first step once you move in.

Cost of Living in Elsmere

Elsmere is one of the more affordable places to own a home in northern New Castle County, and Delaware’s lack of a statewide sales tax helps on everything you buy for the new place.

Home Prices

The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Elsmere at $225,800 (2020–2024), compared with $352,000 for Delaware and $332,700 nationally. Zillow’s typical home value for Elsmere was $239,277 as of August 31, 2026, up 0.4% over the past year, while its typical value for New Castle County as a whole was $369,618 in July 2026.

Redfin’s numbers run higher because they cover the Elsmere mailing-address area, which reaches beyond town limits. Redfin reports a median sale price of about $310,000 for the three months ending August 2026, up 31.3% from a year earlier, with homes selling in a median of 34 days. In short: inside town limits, expect prices well under the county average; in the wider Elsmere area, prices climb toward the low $300,000s.

Rent

The ACS puts median gross rent in Elsmere at $1,339 a month (2020–2024), slightly below the Delaware median of $1,401 and the U.S. median of $1,413. Zillow’s average rent for New Castle County was $1,892 in July 2026, so Elsmere is a good place to look if you want to stay close to Wilmington on a tighter rental budget. About a third of homes in town are rented.

Best Neighborhoods in Elsmere

Elsmere itself is one small grid, so most people talk about sections of town and the neighborhoods just outside it that share the Elsmere name.

The Original Elsmere Grid

The streets around Town Hall at 11 Poplar Avenue and the old fairgrounds area make up the heart of town. The town’s history notes that much of Elsmere was built out with tract housing from the end of World War II through the early 1960s, so expect modest single homes and twins. It suits first-time buyers and small families who want a yard, a short walk to Veterans Park or Fairgrounds Park, and the lowest prices in this part of the county.

Near Kirkwood Highway

The blocks closest to Kirkwood Highway put you near shopping, DART’s Route 6 bus and a straight shot to Newark or downtown Wilmington. They also put you close to the Wilmington VA Medical Center, which makes them practical for veterans and hospital staff. The trade-off is more traffic noise on the streets nearest the highway.

Willow Run and Oak Hill

Just outside the core of town, Redfin tracks Willow Run and Oak Hill as neighborhoods with Elsmere addresses. Redfin reported a median sale price of about $302,000 in Willow Run and about $325,000 in Oak Hill as of August 2026, based on very few sales, so treat those as rough guides. These areas suit buyers who want slightly larger homes while staying near Elsmere’s parks and schools.

Weather & Climate

Elsmere shares northern Delaware’s humid subtropical climate: hot, humid summers, cool to cold winters and rain spread through the year. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for nearby New Castle County Airport, as summarized on Wikipedia, show January averaging a high of 41.4°F and a low of 25.6°F, and July averaging a high of 86.8°F and a low of 68.3°F. The area gets 45.33 inches of precipitation and 20.2 inches of snow in an average year, with about 21 days a year at 90°F or higher.

Best months to move: May, June and mid-September through October. Summer moves go best with an early start. In winter, watch for snow and ice on front steps and driveways, and keep a backup date in mind.

Things to Do in Elsmere

Elsmere’s Town Parks and Bark Park

The Town of Elsmere maintains eight public parks, including Fairgrounds Park at Dover and Filbert avenues (on part of the old state fair grounds), Joseph R. Walling Park on Linden Avenue, Veterans Park at Town Hall and the Elsmere Bark Park, a dog park at 400 Baltimore Avenue. With parks this close together, most residents can walk to one in a few minutes.

Brandywine Park and the Brandywine Zoo

Less than three miles from Elsmere, the Brandywine Zoo opened in 1905 on 4.7 acres inside Wilmington’s Brandywine Park, along the Brandywine. It is managed by the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation, with animals like Andean condors, red pandas, capybaras and bald eagles. It is small and easy to do with young children in a morning.

Hagley Museum and Library

About four miles north, Hagley covers more than 235 acres along the Brandywine where E.I. du Pont started his black powder mills in 1802. You can tour the restored mills, a 19th-century machine shop, a workers’ community and the original du Pont family home and gardens, which you reach by a narrated bus tour or the Powder Yard Trail.

The Wilmington Riverfront

The Riverfront along the Christina River is the go-to spot for dinner, events and a walk by the water. The Riverfront Development Corporation says it welcomed more than 3 million visitors last year, and it offers dining, arts venues, family attractions and a self-guided audio walking tour.

White Clay Creek State Park

When you want real trails, White Clay Creek State Park near Newark is about 20 minutes west. The park covers 3,559 acres along White Clay Creek and has 41 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking.

Where to Eat in Elsmere

Casapulla’s Elsmere Steak Shop (Junction Street)

Casapulla’s opened on Labor Day 1956 as a corner store just north of Kirkwood Highway, started by Luigi Casapulla, an immigrant from Caserta, Italy. Its Italian sub has been the most popular sandwich since opening day, and the original shop on Junction Street is still where locals go. Out & About Magazine calls the family business “a Delaware Institution.”

Mrs. Robino’s (Little Italy, Wilmington)

Less than two miles from Elsmere at 520 North Union Street, Mrs. Robino’s is a family-owned Italian kitchen that makes fresh pasta and homemade sauce every day. It is the easy pick for a comfortable dinner out after a long unpacking day, and it is open seven days a week.

Claymont Steak Shop (Concord Pike and Newark)

Claymont Steak Shop has been making cheesesteaks with ribeye sliced on site since 1966, plus pizza, subs and salads. Its locations on Concord Pike in Wilmington and on South Main Street in Newark are both an easy drive from Elsmere, and it offers delivery and catering if you need to feed a crowd of helpers.

Jobs & Economy

Elsmere is a commuter town with a very short commute. The Census Bureau puts the average one-way trip to work at 24.4 minutes.

Veterans Affairs: The Wilmington VA Medical Center, which opened in 1950, is located inside Elsmere’s town limits.
Healthcare: ChristianaCare has more than 10,000 employees and runs Wilmington Hospital and Christiana Hospital, Delaware’s only adult Level I trauma center. Nemours Children’s Hospital is also a major Delaware employer.
Banking and corporate services: Bank of America, M&T Bank, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup are among Delaware’s biggest employers, and more than half of all U.S. publicly traded companies are incorporated in Delaware.
Science and manufacturing: DuPont, AstraZeneca, Agilent and other companies employ thousands in northern Delaware.
Government and education: The State of Delaware, New Castle County and the University of Delaware are large employers within a 20-minute drive.

Schools in Elsmere

Elsmere is served by the Red Clay Consolidated School District, which covers parts of Wilmington and its northwestern suburbs, including Elsmere, Greenville, Hockessin, Newport and Pike Creek. The district offices are at Austin D. Baltz Elementary School on Spruce Avenue, partly in Elsmere.

According to Wikipedia, Elsmere students attend Austin D. Baltz Elementary in town, then Alexis I. duPont Middle School in Greenville and Thomas McKean High School near Hockessin. Red Clay also runs magnet options such as Cab Calloway School of the Arts and Conrad Schools of Science. Confirm your zoned schools with the district for your exact address.

For college, the University of Delaware in Newark is about 20 minutes away.

Elsmere Quick Facts

County	New Castle County
Founded / incorporated	Founded 1886; incorporated 1909
Land area	0.99 square miles
ZIP code	19805 (Town Hall address)
Area code	302 (Delaware’s only area code; 10-digit dialing)
Main road	Kirkwood Highway (DE Route 2)
Transit	DART First State Route 6
Nearest airports	Wilmington Airport (ILG), 5.5 miles; Philadelphia International (PHL), 23.7 miles
Trash	Thursday trash; Friday recycling and yard waste (Republic Services)
Public schools	Red Clay Consolidated School District
Sales tax	None (Delaware)

Moving to Elsmere: Tips From Our Crew

A few things our Elsmere moving crews always tell customers:

Check the curb before the truck arrives. Many Elsmere streets have cars on both sides and homes set close together. Ask neighbors to keep the space in front of your house open for a few hours, and call Town Hall if you want to place a portable container or dumpster so you know the rules for your block.
Know your trash days. Trash goes out on Thursdays, with recycling and yard waste on Fridays in separate containers. Moving in early in the week gives you a few days to break down boxes before pickup. Missing a container? Republic Services handles replacements.
Plan for twins and tight stairs. A lot of Elsmere homes are post-war singles and twins with narrow stairs and small doorways. Measure big furniture ahead of time. Our crews can take apart beds and tables and wrap everything for the tight turns.
Stay off Kirkwood Highway at rush hour. Kirkwood Highway is the main east-west route through town and gets heavy traffic at morning and evening rush. A mid-morning start makes loading and unloading easier on everyone.
Downsizing from a bigger house? Elsmere homes tend to be smaller than suburban houses farther out. Sort before the move, and use our junk removal or storage services for what will not fit.
Veterans, ask about military pricing. Military moves get 5% off with A & M. See our military moves page for details.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Elsmere

How much does it cost to hire movers in Elsmere?

The price depends on the size of your home, the distance, stairs and parking at both ends, and any packing or storage you need. A one-bedroom move within New Castle County costs far less than moving a full house 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 Elsmere part of Wilmington?

No. Elsmere is its own incorporated town, founded in 1886 and incorporated in 1909, with its own town hall, police department and public works. It borders Wilmington on the city’s western edge, and many addresses nearby use Wilmington in their mailing address.

Is Elsmere affordable?

Compared with the rest of northern Delaware, yes. The Census Bureau’s median home value in Elsmere is $225,800, and Zillow’s typical value was about $239,000 in August 2026, compared with Zillow’s roughly $370,000 for New Castle County. Median rent is $1,339 a month, below the state median.

What schools serve Elsmere?

Elsmere is in the Red Clay Consolidated School District. Wikipedia lists Austin D. Baltz Elementary, Alexis I. duPont Middle and Thomas McKean High as the zoned schools. Red Clay also has magnet schools like Cab Calloway School of the Arts. Always confirm the schools for your specific address with the district.

How long is the commute from Elsmere to Philadelphia?

Philadelphia City Hall is about 33 miles from Elsmere, roughly 55 minutes with light traffic, and much longer at rush hour on I-95. Philadelphia International Airport is about 24 miles away. Many commuters use regional rail from the Wilmington train station instead of driving.

Move to Elsmere With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers is family-owned since 2015, and our Tri-State office handles moves in Elsmere, Wilmington and across New Castle County. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. Our Owner’s Promise means you talk to an owner, not a call center, and if anything is damaged an owner calls you the same day, with claims resolved in 60 to 90 days. Certificates of insurance for apartment and condo buildings are free. From local moves to long-distance moves with a binding estimate and your own dedicated truck, see our Elsmere movers page or call 410-499-8777.

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Moving to Elsmere, DE: Living in Elsmere Guide