Welcome to Durham
Looking ahead to an innovative, tech-forward future while embracing its rich history
An eclectic blend of old and new, Durham, NC is fast becoming a major tech hub in the southeast, having already secured investments from top companies such as Apple, IBM, Meta and Google. Home to Duke University and several other top-rated schools, Durham promises much educational and professional growth for its residents.
Even so, Durham, NC's real estate landscape possesses Southern charm instantiated in ornate architecture accompanied by lush, mature vegetation and parks. Durham, NC homes for sale can range from older bungalows to newer, modern farmhouse-style homes with large yards and eye-catching greenery. Durham's real estate investors can find stately manors, contemporary houses, as well as land and lots for new construction.
What to Love
Local Lifestyle - Living in Durham, NC
No longer pigeonholed as the tobacco capital of America, Durham today combines elements of a startup incubator, college town, bastion of local commerce, and, yes, antebellum history. Much of Durham’s growth can be attributed to its universities. Many activities (e.g., plays, art displays, speakers, and athletic events) are put on by the local colleges. The student bodies of Duke, North Carolina Central, and Shaw make for lively arts, foodie, and bar scenes. Neighborhoods like Forest Hills and Chancellor’s Ridge are magnets for families. Meanwhile, smaller tech companies have sprouted thanks to the influx of tech giants, which attract talent from worldwide and lend the city an international flair.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping in Durham
Ranked “
America's Foodiest Small Town” by
Bon Appétit, Durham has a lot to desire for all the foodies out there. For premier Southern comfort food, visit
Dame's Chicken & Waffles; their signature dishes are Mimi's Sassy Shrimp and their famous chicken and waffles.
For upscale dining with the heart of Spain and the soul of the South, try
Mateo Bar de Tapas, which serves signature seafood dishes and a bottle of wine from its extensive collection. Another international option is M Sushi, in nearby Durham. Besides its exciting array of sushi items,
M Sushi also offers traditional Japanese fare.
For a unique shopping experience, try
Brightleaf Square. It's home to multiple locally-owned shops and eateries, all within an intriguing setting of restored tobacco warehouses, complete with an outdoor courtyard. South of Durham,
The Streets at Southpoint offers high-end department stores, an upscale movie theater, live music while you shop, and much more.
Things to Do in Durham, NC
For those who love to spend time outdoors, there's Eno River State Park. The park has almost 4,000 acres of woodlands where visitors can hike, camp, fish, canoe, or go for a quiet walk to commune with nature. In addition to the many activities on the Duke campus, there's the
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, home to 55 acres of public gardens. The gardens also have five miles of public walking paths, a koi pond, and an amphitheater.
In addition to college basketball games at Duke University, always a hot ticket, and the many other college-level athletic events, Durham hosts the Triple-A minor league baseball games of the Bulls (the subject of the movie Bull Durham). And the
Durham Performing Arts Center is a beautiful upscale theater that hosts various events, including well-known musical artists and Broadway shows.
Schools in Durham
The Durham area is served by the Durham Public Schools school district. Top-rated educational institutions in the area include:
- Duke University, ranked by Forbes as the ninth-best college in America, is just as respected and selective as the eight traditional Ivy schools. Duke grads hail from all corners of the globe and excel in virtually every field, especially computer science, economics, and public policy. Famous for its D-1 basketball program, Duke is also an academic powerhouse that spends over a billion dollars per year on research.
- North Carolina Central University, a historically black college, offers undergrad and graduate programs and ranks in the top quartile of North Carolina universities. Its law program is considered top-tier.
- North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics enrolls students in grades 11 and 12. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 7:1, NCSSM was one of 25 schools to make The Washington Post’s list of top-performing secondary schools.
