North Carolina’s New Hot Spot: Durham Neighborhood Guide

As recently as 2017, Durham, North Carolina was ranked as one of the top cities for millennials by Homebuyer.ai (formerly Growella). With a growing downtown, a gorgeous performing arts center, a popular and historic minor league baseball team, and the excitement and opportunities provided by Duke University, it’s obvious why more and more young families are flocking to this rapidly  growing city.

In addition, the ever-improving American Tobacco Campus provides Durham residents with access to an innovative dining, entertainment and office space destination that’s typically reserved for larger cities. If this all sounds great, but you’d like to narrow your options, the neighborhoods below offer a good starting point.

Brightleaf at the Park

Brightleaf at the Park is a recently formed master community that is still in the process of being built along the Raleigh-Durham line, providing quick access to Research Triangle Park and, of course, everything that both Raleigh and Durham have to offer. Not to be confused with downtown Durham’s Brightleaf Square, Brightleaf at the Park is a vibrant community offering hundreds of homes, a community pool, playground, and a land plan certified by the Audubon Society.

Average Age: 54 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 47%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $375K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $600

 Parks & Entertainment:

• Bethesda Park
• TriCenter Baseball Fields
• Frankie’s of Raleigh

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Neal Middle
  • Spring Valley Elementary School
  • Southern School of Energy and Sustainability

Grocery:

• Food Lion
• Robert’s Country Store

Retail:

• Ravenstone Commons Shopping Center
• Brier Creek Commons

Pet Care:

• Page Point Animal Hospital and Pet Resort

Dining:

• Happily Desserted
• Cook Out
• Roma Pizza Shop

Chancellors Ridge

Looking for a quiet, rural setting featuring luxurious landscapes, beautiful forestry and spacious homes, all while reserving extremely quick access to one of the most popular points of interest in Durham with Southpoint Mall? Look no further than Chancellors Ridge, which offers all of the peace and privacy of a scenic, wooded setting located only a brief jaunt from Research Triangle Park, I-40 and the downtowns of both Raleigh and Durham. What’s that thing they say about location, location, location?

Average Age: 45 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 94%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $330K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $470

 Parks & Entertainment:

• Jordan Lake
• Eagle Spur Trail
• UNC Finley Golf Course
• CM Herndon Park

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Charles E. Jordan Sr. High School
  • Creekside Elementary School
  • Sherwood Githens Middle

Grocery:

• Aldi
• Sprouts Farmers Market

Retail:

• Southpoint Mall
• Hope Valley Commons

Pet Care:

• THRIVE Affordable Vet Care

Dining:

• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Firebirds Wood Fire Grill
• Harvest 18 Restaurant
• Bonefish Grill

Downtown Durham

If there’s anywhere a new resident of Durham should look to grow, it’s right in the middle of Downtown Durham, an area experiencing unprecedented economic growth. Featuring a large influx of young professionals, homes are skyrocketing in value as the city grows, while Durham mainstays continue to show the youngsters how to make the most of downtown, which boasts the popular Durham Bulls Triple-A baseball team as proud residents.

Average Age: 32 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 30%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $565K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $678

 Parks & Entertainment:

• Durham Bulls Athletic Park
• Durham Performing Arts Center
• Blackwell Street & Diamond View Park
• Durham Central Park

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Charles E. Jordan Sr. High School
  • E. K. Powe Elementary School
  • Sherwood Githens Middle
  • Riverside High School
  • Northern High

Grocery:

• Bulldega Urban Market
• Food World
• Durham Co-op Market

Retail:

• Brightleaf Square
• Bull City Market

Pet Care:

• Broadway Veterinary Hospital

Dining:

• Littler
• Mateo Bar de Tapas
• Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas
• Bar Virgile

Duke Park

Quick history lesson: When Durham began to grow in the earlier parts of the 20th century, Duke Park became one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods. One hundred years later, this community is still a fantastic option for those looking to bring their families to Durham. Centered around an eponymous park, Duke Park offers everything from new builds to older homes, providing a rare feeling of establishment amongst all of the area’s growth. With plenty of families already having existed in Duke Park for generations, this community has the feeling of a quaint small town.

Average Age: 48 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 52%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $418K

HOA: None

 Parks & Entertainment:

• Duke Park
• Northgate Park and Dog Park
• Historic Durham Athletic Park
• Museum of Life and Science

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Brogden Middle
  • E K Powe Elementary School
  • Lucas Middle School
  • Riverside High School
  • Northern High

Grocery:

• King’s Supermarket
• Whole Foods Market
• Compare Foods

Retail:

• Brightleaf Square
• Northgate Mall

Pet Care:

• Broadway Veterinary Hospital

Dining:

• Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant
• Parts & Labor
• Burger Bach
• Mothers & Sons Trattoria

Fairfield

If you like a large lot in a serene, rural setting away from downtown, Fairfield is a great place for new Durham residents to set up shop. Yet, Fairfield still offers a brief commute to Durham, Raleigh or even Chapel Hill, which is great because you’ll want to get home quickly to enjoy the community clubhouse and pool.

Average Age: 47 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 98%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $400K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $660

 Parks & Entertainment:

• CM Herndon Park
• Parkwood Lake
• Hidden Park and Playground
• Escape on Purpose

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Charles E. Jordan Sr. High School
  • Parkwood Elementary
  • Creekside Elementary
  • Lowe’s Grove Middle
  • Hillside High

Grocery:

• Food Lion
• Aldi

Retail:

• Southpoint Mall
• Kitt Creek Commons Shopping Center

Pet Care:

• THRIVE Affordable Vet Care

Dining:

• Harvest 18
• Brigs at the Park Restaurant
• Only Burger
• Bocci Trattoria & Pizzeria

Forest Hills

If you’re interested in a more established community, Forest Hills features a number of homes — Colonials, English Cottages, Tudors and the like — from the early to mid-20th century, providing the charm of a quiet, historic community with access to the amenities of the city. However, older homes don’t mean that Forest Hills lacks the benefits of modern communities. There are still the pools, playgrounds, and tennis courts that are perfect for neighborhood barbecues and family gatherings.

Average Age: 55 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 84%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $450K

HOA: None

 Parks & Entertainment:

• Forest Hills Park
• Rockwood Park
• Hillside Park
• Durham Stadium

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Charles E. Jordan Sr. High School
  • C. Spaulding Elementary
  • Lakewood Elementary
  • Sherwood Githens Middle

Grocery:

• Food Lion
• Compare Foods

Retail:

• South Square
• Regulator Bookshop

Pet Care:

• Cornwallis Road Animal Hospital

Dining:

• Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant
• Q Shack
• Pizzeria Toro
• Nanataco

Grandale Place

Nestled happily in southern Durham, Grandale Place provides convenient access to I-40, NC-55/54 and Southpoint Mall, while remaining an arm’s length from the hustle and bustle. A gorgeous neighborhood with 135 single-family homes, Grandale Place makes it easy to walk to the neighborhood playground with a top-notch homeowner’s association that keeps everything nicely manicured.

Average Age: 47 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 98%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $468K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $495

 Parks & Entertainment:

• Parkwood Lake
• M. Herndon Park
• American Tobacco Trail
• Emerald Pond

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Charles E. Jordan Sr. High School
  • Parkwood Elementary
  • Creekside Elementary
  • Lowe’s Grove Middle
  • Hillside High

Grocery:

• Food Lion
• Aldi

Retail:

• Southpoint Mall
• Kitt Creek Commons Shopping Center

Pet Care:

• Tyson Animal Hospital

Dining:

• Brigs at the Park Restaurant
• Zinburger Wine & Burger
• Pizzeria Toro
• Nanataco

Hope Valley Farms

Lakes, creeks, nature? How about a little peace and quiet? Hope Valley Farms provides the serenity of rural living with a community full of mature trees and a welcoming atmosphere. However, there’s still plenty to do in the area, with Hope Valley Country Club and Frazier Lake nearby for fun and fishing. If you’re hoping to settle down in Durham, it’s hard to do much better at such affordable housing costs.

Average Age: 42 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 86%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $275K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $300 

Parks & Entertainment:

• Frazier Lake
• Southern Boundaries Park
• Hope Valley Country Club
• Chamberlynne Park

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Charles E. Jordan Sr. High School
  • Sherwood Githens Middle
  • Southwest Elementary
  • Lowe’s Grove Middle
  • Hillside High

Grocery:

• Food Lion
• Harris Teeter

Retail:

• South Square
• Shoppes of Hope Valley

Pet Care:

• Cornwallis Road Animal Hospital

Dining:

• Elmo’s Diner
• Thai Cafe
• Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant
• Nanataco

Treyburn

Golf alert! The Treyburn Country Club is all you need to know if you’re a prospective Durham resident who loves the links. Of course, there’s a phenomenal pool and clubhouse for the rest of the non-golfers, but no matter what you’re into, this northern Durham community boasts entertainment stacked on top of peace and quiet. Rural vibes with amenities abound.

Average Age: 55 years old (2010 census)

Homeowners: 89%

Home Prices: Median sale price is $440K

HOA: Ranges from $0 to $595

Parks & Entertainment:

• Treyburn Country Club
• Little River
• Little River Regional Park and Natural Area
• Snow Hill Park

Schools:

• Durham Public School District
  • Northern High
  • Mangum Elementary
  • Little River Elementary
  • Lucas Middle School

Grocery:

• Food Lion
• Harris Teeter

Retail:

• Riverview Shopping Center
• Eno Square

Pet Care:

• North Paw Animal Hospital

Dining:

• Bleu Olive
• Elmo’s Diner
• Silver Spoon Restaurant
• Shanghai Restaurant

If you are considering relocating to the Raleigh-Durham area, contact Armstrong Relocation – Raleigh for local and long-distance moving services.