Brandywine School District, New Castle DE County, PA
Hillcrest
Performance Tier
Average
Median Sold
$335,000
Avg. Appreciation
101%
Avg. $ Gain
$148,667
2025 Sales
5
Low Activity
Compared to the Brandywine district average, Hillcrest is
underperforming by 9%.
Based on 33 years of public sales records across 2418 neighborhoods in 4 counties.
About
Hillcrest is a detached single-family subdivision in North Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, with homes built predominantly between 1910 and 1940 — consistent with the Brandywine Hundred’s early 20th-century residential expansion. Structures are two-story Cape Cod and Colonial frames on lots ranging from under a tenth of an acre on interior streets to a third of an acre on larger parcels, with detached garages, walk-up attics, and full basements appearing across the verified listing record. The subdivision carries a Wilmington mailing address but falls outside Wilmington city limits, meaning residents are not subject to the city’s 1.25% earned income tax, and benefit from Delaware’s 0.50% effective property tax rate — among the lowest in the nation — and the state’s absence of a general sales tax.
Specifications
Home Stock
The subdivision is composed entirely of detached single-family structures. Verified public records document two-story Cape Cod and Colonial-style frames built predominantly between 1910 and 1940, with features common to the era: hardwood floors, brick fireplaces, walk-up attics, full basements, and detached garages. Exterior materials noted in listings include cedar siding and asbestos shingles on older unrenovated examples.
Location & Access
Hillcrest Avenue runs through the subdivision and intersects with Shipley Road, a primary local connector. Philadelphia Pike (US-13) and Marsh Road are the nearest arterials; I-95 (exit 9 at Marsh Road) and I-495 (exit 4 at Edgemoor) are within minutes, positioning the community between downtown Wilmington and the Pennsylvania state line.
Location Anchors
What Makes This Distinct
Because Hillcrest was developed organically across several decades of the early 20th century rather than by a single builder, individual homes vary meaningfully in size, condition, and renovation history — buyers should budget for age-related systems (electrical, plumbing, roofing) even on homes that present well cosmetically, as the listing record documents examples ranging from fully renovated to investor-grade rehab candidates within the same block.
For Buyers & Sellers
If You’re Buying
Accessible at $335k median. historically strong appreciation.
If You’re Selling
Sellers gained $149k on average. properties doubled in value (101% gain). median sale price $335k.
Worth Asking
Have you considered what it means that this subdivision’s mailing address says ‘Wilmington’ but the property sits outside Wilmington city limits — specifically, have you confirmed with your accountant whether that distinction affects your earned income tax exposure before you make an offer?
Common Questions
What school does the elementary-age child of a Hillcrest resident attend?
Mount Pleasant Elementary School, part of the Brandywine School District, serves this area. The school is located at 500 Duncan Road, Wilmington, DE 19809, and enrolls grades K–5. It is one of nine elementary schools in the Brandywine School District and offers a Gifted and Talented program. School boundary assignments can change; buyers should verify their specific address with the Brandywine School District before closing.
Is there a homeowners association (HOA) in Hillcrest?
No HOA has been identified in public records covering this subdivision. Listings pulled from BrightMLS show no HOA dues, and multiple individual property records confirm $0 HOA fees. Buyers should conduct their own title search to confirm the absence of any recorded deed restrictions or community covenants, as informal or lapsed associations are not always reflected in public sales data.
What outdoor recreation is accessible from Hillcrest?
Bellevue State Park (800 Carr Road, Wilmington, DE 19809) is the nearest major public greenspace. The park, located off I-95 exit 9, includes walking and running trails, a fitness track with exercise stations, tennis courts, equestrian stables, playgrounds, fishing, disc golf, and picnic areas. Seasonal entrance fees apply from March through November ($4 for Delaware residents, $8 for non-residents per day). The park is accessible via Marsh Road or Carr Road from the Hillcrest area.
Items to Verify with Your Agent
A few specifics on this page are sourced from secondary aggregators or older filings. Confirm before relying:
- Approx Homes — No verified home count for the Hillcrest subdivision boundary exists in any accessible public record or public records aggregate. Xome lists many individual addresses on Hillcrest Ave but does not provide a total parcel count for the defined subdivision.
- Builder — Hillcrest developed organically across multiple decades (verified build dates range from 1910 to 1940+). No single builder or developer of record has been identified in any source.
- Hoa Name — No HOA has been found in public records, listing disclosures, or HOA registry searches. Public records-derived HOA status is ‘None found.’ Absence is not guaranteed; a title search is required to confirm no recorded covenants exist.
- Interior Sqft Range Text — Square footage range is estimated from a sample of verified individual listings (1,000–1,875 sq ft). No district-level or subdivision-aggregate sq ft data was found. Outliers likely exist.
- Shared Name Sibling — The name ‘Hillcrest’ is used by many communities nationally and within Delaware. The BrightMLS subdivision code ‘HILLCREST (NEW CASTLE DE)’ distinguishes this community, but page editors should confirm no other ‘Hillcrest’ subdivision in New Castle County shares this tag.
School District
Hillcrest is served by the Brandywine School District. Buyers should verify current school assignments directly with the district.
View Brandywine School District Information
Sources Consulted
Public deed records · New Castle DE County Recorder · brightmlshomes.com · longandfoster.com · atproperties.com · compass.com · movoto.com · nces.ed.gov · brandywineschools.org · en.wikipedia.org · greatschools.org · delawarestateparks.reserveamerica.com · delawarescene.com · visitdelaware.com · taxfoundation.org · tax-rates.org · nextdoor.com
Data refreshed: April 25, 2026 (median sold, appreciation, performance tiers, narratives) · Content reviewed: April 25, 2026 (overview, structural insight, FAQs)
The Cyr Team · 2418 neighborhoods · 4 counties · 33 years of public sales records