When you're thinking about relocating, buying a second home, or retiring here in coastal
Delaware, Lewes and Rehoboth Beach are usually the first towns on everyone's list. But
can Milton, Delaware be a better place to live than Lewes or Rehoboth? They each have a
different feel, so I spent a day touring all around Milton to give you a real good idea of
what it offers and let you make that decision for yourself .
And hey, if Milton wasn't on your radar before, I'd highly recommend adding it. It's one of
the most underrated towns in coastal Delaware.
I'll walk you through where Milton sits, what's downtown, what homes are going for, the
new construction going in, and some of the outdoor spots that make this area special.
Where Exactly Is Milton, Delaware?
Milton is about 15 to 20 minutes from the beaches in Lewes and Rehoboth, depending on traffic.
And we all know that in season, traffic around here can get very busy.
To get a visual of where Milton, DE sits, Route 113 runs north and south through Georgetown on down to
Millsboro, and Route 1 runs north and south too, eventually taking you through Rehoboth
and the rest of the beach towns.
Going west to east, Route 16 runs from the Ellendale area over to Broadkill Beach, and
down by Georgetown you've got Route 9 running across into Lewes.
Milton sits in the rectangle those roads form. A lot of the addresses toward the east still
carry a Milton address, with new developments popping up, before things fade into
Lewes. To the west it blends into Georgetown, with Milford up top.
Milton is best known for its historic downtown. It's quaint, walkable, and still close to the
beach. It's also a great spot for value. Whether you're relocating, buying a second home, or
retiring here full-time, Milton has good options in both resales and new construction. You
can still find homes in the high $200s, which is very hard to find anywhere in southern
Delaware. Of course, depending on the house and neighborhood, you can spend a lot more too.
What Is There to Do in Downtown Milton?
I started my tour at Milton Memorial Park, which I consider the heart of downtown. It's a
big park right on the Broadkill River, the same river that winds all the way out toward
Lewes. You'll find some parking, a few boat docks, gazebos, and nice wide walking paths
along the waterfront.
From the park, everything downtown is an easy walk. Cross the little bridge and you'll find
The Dough Bar, a popular spot for wood-fired pizza. Cut through the alley and you'll come
out by Irish Eyes, another popular local hangout.
Then of course you have the Milton Theatre, a real piece of local history that I believe
dates back to around 1910. Today it hosts live music and shows. When I was walking
around, I also stopped into Tequila Real, which has good authentic Mexican food if you're
looking for something like that. There's a little path along the waterfront that cuts right
over to it.
You'll also find a handful of coffee shops and other restaurants sprinkled around town.
For everyday errands, head a little north to Route 16. That's where you'll find a Food Lion
grocery store, a Walgreens and other pharmacies, and most of your shopping. For medical
care, the Bayhealth Emergency and Urgent Care Center, Total Care - Milton on Hudson
Road offers 24/7 walk-in and emergency care right in town. The main hospital, Beebe
Healthcare, is over in Lewes, again about 15 to 20 minutes away.
How Much Do Homes Cost in Milton?
In my latest Youtube video (link at the end of my blog here), I showed three resale homes that were currently listed and or sold recently to give a feel of what a buyer could get.
Sailor Lane. Just outside the downtown area but still considered in town, this small
community is mostly standard ranch-style homes. The home I passed was listed at
$360,000 for about 1,400 square feet. That's a good snapshot of entry-level pricing in
town.
Wagamon's Pond. This home sold a few months ago for $580,000. It's a bigger and newer
house than the first one. Comparing the size, the year built, and comparing something similar
in Lewes and Rehoboth, I think that's a pretty good value.
Federal St. home, If you want to be right in town and you love character, this one's for
you. It's a four-plus bedroom home with about 2,600 square feet, built in the early 1900s
and full of charm. Everything downtown is right outside your door.
What About Dogfish Head and the New Construction?
On the south side of Milton is Dogfish Head Brewery. Y ou've probably heard of them, and
if you ever looked at the back of the bottle and wondered where the heck Milton,
Delaware is, now you know. The place is massive. If you've never been, take the tour. You'll
learn the history of the company, the founders behind it, and what makes them different.
Right next to the brewery is The Cannery neighborhood, an established community with a mix of
townhomes and single-family homes. The same developer is behind the big new project
just up the road called The Granary at Draper Farm.
The Granary at Draper Farm
This is the new construction community everyone's talking about, and it's going to be
huge. Here's some info:
Builders: D.R. Horton and DRB Homes are the two main builders right now.
Size: about 451 acres, with roughly 1,300 homes planned.
Phasing: built out over about 10 phases. They're in phase one now, all single-family
homes so far.
Home types: a mix of single-family homes and townhomes, and possibly some condos.
Amenities: Plans call for green spaces and wellness areas. Resort-style pool & clubhouse, 3+ miles of walking & biking trails, tied into Milton's Rails-to-Trails system, Pickleball, tennis and basketball courts, athletic fields, bouldering area and skate park, Amphitheater for community events.
Things are still getting kicked off , but I'm sure it's going to be beautiful. I'll be doing a
separate deep dive on The Granary that covers incentives and everything else you'd want
to know about the community.
Where Can You Get Outdoors Around Milton?
Head east out of Milton on Route 16 and you'll pass through the Prime Hook National
Wildlife Refuge. It's huge. If you love the outdoors, photography, or birding, this place is
world-renowned.
Keep going and you'll end up at Broadkill Beach, a quiet little bay beach. There are no real
waves, so it's easy swimming for the kids. It's very underdeveloped, but there are quite a
few large homes back in there, and a lot of them are rented out as vacation homes.
A quick tip if you're just visiting: parking is limited. There's a little country store right when
you come in, plus a few spots along both sides of the road. Unless you've rented a house,
that's about it for parking.
Once you're there, you can fish off the beach, swim, and just hang out with the family. It's
laid-back and quiet, a big difference from even the Lewes bay beach, and definitely a
world away from the summer hustle and bustle of Rehoboth.
So, Is Milton Better Than Lewes or Rehoboth?
It really comes down to personal preference, but Milton offers a lot.
I think back to a couple I helped not long ago. They had a custom-built home right next to
downtown Lewes. I helped them buy a lot to build a new home in Milton, about 15 minutes
away. They wanted a larger lot, which they could get by moving just a little further from
the beach. The traffic in the middle of downtown Lewes had also become a bit too much
for them.
Some people really want to be in town, right in the mix. Others, like my clients, are happy
living 15 minutes away. You can get more for your money, and you can still head into Lewes and
Rehoboth whenever you want, then stay out of it when you don't. Milton, DE has a great historic downtown
area and amenities where you don't have to venture elsewhere.
Hope that helps, and reach out if you need any help here by the Coastal Delaware and Maryland
area. Best way to connect with me is through my calendar link here: https://calendly.com/rich-price-realty/15min
Check out my full Youtube video tour of Milton, DE by tapping the image below.
