#1Lewes
Sussex County · 3,826 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 98% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #2 of 37 in DE
Lewes, #1 on this list · Photo: Harrison Keely · CC BY 4.0Delaware rankings · Outdoors
Best towns for the outdoors in Delaware
Lewes ranks first on outdoors among Delaware’s 37 towns of 2,500+; 15 of the 37 grade A− or better on outdoors nationally.
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. How grades work
#1A+
#2Newark
New Castle County · 30,359 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #24 of 37 in DE
#3New Castle
New Castle County · 5,726 peopleOutdoors grade, better than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #17 of 37 in DE
All 37 towns
Outdoors grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
37 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
4Pike Creek Valleyunincorporated, New Castle County · 12,431 peopleAbetter than 93% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #15 of 37
6Pike Creekunincorporated, New Castle County · 7,129 peopleAbetter than 88% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #4 of 37
7Glasgowunincorporated, New Castle County · 15,546 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #20 of 37
9North Starunincorporated, New Castle County · 7,834 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #8 of 37
11Claymontunincorporated, New Castle County · 8,786 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #3 of 37
12Hockessinunincorporated, New Castle County · 13,439 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #5 of 37
16Greenvilleunincorporated, New Castle County · 3,713 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #6 of 37
17Wilmington Manorunincorporated, New Castle County · 8,214 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #7 of 37
21Highland Acresunincorporated, Kent County · 3,752 peopleB+better than 69% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #12 of 37
24Dover Base Housingunincorporated, Kent County · 2,962 peopleBbetter than 64% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #23 of 37
25Brooksideunincorporated, New Castle County · 15,115 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #29 of 37
26Bearunincorporated, New Castle County · 22,370 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #28 of 37
27Edgemoorunincorporated, New Castle County · 6,349 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #11 of 37
34Riverviewunincorporated, Kent County · 2,596 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #21 of 37
36Rising Sun-Lebanonunincorporated, Kent County · 4,163 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #13 of 37
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which Delaware town is best for the outdoors?
Lewes (Sussex County) ranks first on outdoors among 37 towns, with an A+; Newark and New Castle follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Outdoors grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): the share of land conserved and the trail miles per square mile. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a outdoors grade (37 in Delaware). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Delaware page.
Go deeper
All Delaware rankings →More Delaware lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live37 towns · #1 TownsendBest small towns26 towns · #1 TownsendMost affordable towns37 towns · #1 Wilmington ManorSafest towns22 towns · #1 TownsendTowns with the best schools37 towns · #1 Lewes and MiltonHealthiest towns37 towns · #1 North StarBest towns for jobs & income37 towns · #1 Pike CreekMost walkable towns37 towns · #1 WilmingtonTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk37 towns · #1 Wilmington ManorMost historic towns37 towns · #1 New CastleTowns with the most civic life22 towns · #1 LewesTowns with the least snow37 towns · #1 LaurelDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns37 towns · #1 BearDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters34 towns · #1 Ocean ViewDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers34 towns · #1 SeafordDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers34 towns · #1 Ocean ViewDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes37 towns · #1 HockessinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes36 towns · #1 HarringtonDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns21 towns · #1 MilfordDescribed, no letters
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